Robert J. Garrand

Beloved husband, cherished father and Gramp, dear uncle, friend and teacher, Robert (Bob)

J. Garrand, a resident of Westwood for the past 47 years, passed away peacefully with his wife by his

side on May 4, 2020. Bob was born in Plattsburgh, NY on March 3, 1931 to Theodore

and Jessie Garrand. He spent his early years in the predominantly French-Canadian town of Mooers,

N.Y.. which is, as Bob described it, within walking distance of Canada. His father moved the family,

which by then included his sister, Doris, and his brother, Richard or Dick, to Mineville, NY where Bob

stayed until his graduation from Mineville High School.

In secondary school he distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete, winning four letters: baseball,

basketball, football and track and field. As a senior he was asked by a scout for the team to try out for

the St. Louis Browns which offered him a place upon graduation. At the same time he was offered a

full athletic scholarship to Wake Forest University. But it was the time of the Korean War and he

chose to join the Air Force. He became a member of the crew of the Strategic Air Command (SAC)

carrying the nuclear warheads stationed at Yokota airbase in Japan until he was mustered out of the

service and returned to the States. For a short period he entertained the notion of becoming part of the

entertainment industry since he was blessed with a beautiful tenor voice and had been recognized by

Billie Holliday one night as he was singing in a club. She approached him and said: “Young man, you

have to do something with that voice.” But as he was living in Queens with his sister in a building of

entertainers, her experiences as a singer with the Big Bands discouraged him. Doris finally

convinced him to take advantage of the GI Bill and apply to Oswego State Teachers College, as it was

known then. He majored in Graphic Arts with a strong interest in Meteorology, which remained with

him all his life. He graduated in 1958 after only three years and began applying for a teaching job.

He said that as soon as he entered the town of New Milford for his interview with B. F. Gibbs,

he knew that is where he wanted to teach. He spent thirty-five happy and fulfilling years at

New Milford High School in the Industrial Arts Department teaching Graphic Arts (with a

concentration in Printing and Photography) as well as in various other capacities throughout the school.

His love and dedication to teaching was seen not only in the classroom but in the personal interest he

took in his students beyond academics. In return they offered their sincere admiration and respect

to their teacher in the classroom, their coach on the football field and adviser to the Rifle Club.

In 1974 he received his Master’s Degree in the area of school administration from Seton Hall

University after combining teaching, extra-curricular activities and studies.

Music was his avocation and he never missed an opportunity to share his beautiful tenor voice

anywhere and with anyone. As a young man he had sung in clubs and for organizations but now

he took part in musicals presented by the faculty to raise money for scholarships. In later years he sang

in the choir of Zion Lutheran Church in Westwood where both he and Lorraine came to appreciate their

many acts of kindness and compassion. Before that he sang in Our Lady of Good Counsel Choir in the

Township of Washington where he had been an active and faithful parishioner for over forty years.

In retirement Bob indulged his love of travel and since he had more time, his hunting and fishing trips

became a little longer. His retirement of twenty-five years allowed him to explore the American and

Canadian West, many parts of Europe including visits to long-time friends in France and Sweden as

well as visits to relatives in Ireland. He, Lorraine and Mary Kathleen traveled to Alaska to visit his

brother, using his van to camp out on many side trips. Bob rented a plane to land them on the side of

Denali (Mt. McKinley), amazed at the vast expanses around them. They then rented another plane for

a salmon fishing trip to a chain of lakes about three-hundred miles from civilization. Mary caught the

first one of their limit which were smoked and sent back to Westwood.

On one camping trip Bob and Lorraine traveled to James Bay in northern Quebec over hundreds of

miles of gravel roads where they befriended a tribe of Cree Indians encamped on a nearby lake. On his

annual trips to Quebec Bob saw and heard of the needed changes taking place in their tribal life.

He bagged his last buck at the age of eighty and, as all know, he never lost his love of his Adirondack

Mountains making several trips there each year. His last trip was to Saranac Lake and then

to Mineville which brought back many happy memories of his hunting trips with friends and ice fishing

on Lake Champlain.

Many weekends were spent in the Catskills. After work on Friday afternoon Bob and Lorraine would

pack up the red Ford Bronco with their camping gear, pile Mary Kathleen on the top of it all and head

off to the Catskills to their favorite wilderness camping spot among the trees where they would meet

their long time friends, Lou and Udine Capozzi, for their usual martinis, hors d’oeuvres and steaks.

Mary Kathleen’s first camping trip took place at the age of four months in a snow storm there and she

still loves to go camping with her family.

There was nothing dearer to him or which gave him more pride than his family. He followed his

daughter, Mary Kathleen, to her many ice skating venues and burst with pride at each medal she

brought home. He realized how much more love one has to give with the birth of each grandson, Liam

and Gavin, and dreamed of seeing them grow up.

The most visible of his many accomplishments was his large garden, an array of different fruits and

vegetables many of which he canned, to be enjoyed throughout the winter months. The fruits became

pies which were frozen for the winter and his tasty tomatoes were enjoyed by everyone.

He loved to practice his usually successful attempts at mastering the culinary arts and his daughter,

Mary Kathleen, has inherited that love as one can hear as they discuss their evening meals over the

telephone, he in Westwood and she in Virginia.

This love was gladly shared as he enjoyed entertaining at the parties he and Lorraine gave at New

Year’s Eve, Bastille Day and at small dinner parties throughout the year. As soon as one party was

over, he was planning the next. He truly believed that love and friendship are found at the table with

family and friends. Bob and Lorraine found great pleasure in opening their home to family , friends

and even complete strangers from all over. There was always a warm bed and plenty of food for

everyone.

But for all his traveling, the one trip he loved most of all was to see his beloved family in Virginia

and they took that trip as often as possible. They both agreed that they could leave this earth

content in knowing that Mary Kathleen had found the perfect husband in Jim and that their two

grandsons, Liam and Gavin have two loving, nurturing parents. Bob left his daughter and young

grandsons with his athletic ability and his love of baseball, she a baseball fan and gold medalist on the

ice and her boys making a name for themselves in baseball as they dream of a career in the sport.

Although Bob dreamed of teaching his grandsons to fish, conversations make it clear that

fishing will count among their other pursuits inspired by Gramp..

Sadly Bob was predeceased by his sister who was a great inspiration to him, and her husband, Doris

and George McNulty, his brother, Richard Garrand, and two nephews, Peter McNulty and Marc

Garrand. He leaves a niece and four nephews: Kathryn Holmes (Bill) of Florida, George McNulty

(Emily) of Pennsylvania, Matthew McNulty of New Jersey, Michael Connolly (Joann) and Patrick

Connolly (Mary Beth) both of Maryland, the “Romeos” and our two dear friends, Joe and Theresa

Rodriguez of Mineville who must be counted as family.

Bob has left behind him his cherished wife of fifty years, Lorraine, his daughter, Mary Kathleen

Craige, whom he loved beyond all measure, his son-in law, Jim Craige, whom he admired, loved and

respected and two treasured grandsons, Liam, 10, and Gavin, 6, both of whom he knows will grow into

loved and respected young men in whatever path they may choose.

The family would like to extend its deep gratitude to Father Ray Rodrigue of OLGC, Pastor Pranschke

of Zion Lutheran for their consoling words and presence, our wonderful group of compassionate

friends who have remained with us during these difficult months, the staff at Pascack Valley Medical

Center, Bob’s physical therapist, Geri Ngo, whose outstanding devotion to Bob must never be

forgotten. And in his last days we came to know and appreciate the compassionate care given by his

hospice nurses and aides.

Bob will be interred at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Johnson, N.Y. With the eventual passage of the

corona virus, Bob will be remembered at a memorial service at a date and place to be decided.