Garry Hanck Woodward

Garry Hanck Woodward was born on February 12, 1957 at Hahnemann Hospital, Washington, DC, to Dr. Lawrence Godfrey Woodward and Nancy Rika Hanck. Garry was three when his family moved to Taiwan where his father was on assignment with the Central Intelligence Agency. While in Taiwan, Garry attended a Chinese-speaking kindergarten before returning to the States in 1963. Back in the States, Garry's family moved into a house on Vacation Lane in Arlington, Virginia and Garry attended Taylor Elementary School. Garry went to Stratford Junior High School, where he was Editor of "The Signpost", the school newspaper. At Stratford, Garry became a "corner person" and developed friendships that lasted the rest of his life. After Stratford, Garry went to Woodstock Country School in South Woodstock, Vermont for 10th grade. For two summers around this time, Garry went to a summer camp on Lake Michigan with his some of his best buddies. After Woodstock Country School, Garry returned to Arlington and attended Washington-Lee High School, where his father graduated from in 1943, for 11th and 12th grades and graduated in 1975.

After graduation, Garry attended Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. Garry left Flagler and joined the Navy in April 1977. He was a Personnelman throughout his Navy career until his retirement in November 1993. While in the Navy, Garry was stationed aboard three ships: The USS Tripoli, the USS Essex, and the USS Haleakala. When not out to sea, Garry served tours of duty in San Diego, California; Vallejo, California; Guam; the Philippines; Hawaii; and Seattle, Washington. Garry received the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with two Bronze Stars), the Navy Achievement Medal (with one Gold Star), the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (with two Bronze Stars) and three Good Conduct awards.

Upon retirement from the Navy, Garry continued working in personnel/human resources, first for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. and later for the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society in Arlington, Virginia. Garry left the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society and became his father's caretaker while his father fought cancer. Garry's father passed away in 2007; Garry's mother in 1999. (Both his parents retired from the CIA.) After Garry's father's death, Garry took the required coursework to become a certified drug abuse counselor. Also around that time, Garry began practicing Mahayana Buddhism. Garry attended training over several summers at the Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies, the North American Seat of the Personal Monastery of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Over the past couple of years Garry continued to embrace his love of music by attending nearly 70 concerts. Garry was honored to meet some of his favorite musicians during that time including Pinetop Perkins, John Mayall, Carl Palmer, Ray Manzarek, Todd Rundgren, Keith Emerson, and Tinsley Ellis.

Garry is survived by his loving wife and soulmate, Susan Berkeley Woodward of Arlington, VA; brother, Lawrence W. (Chip) Woodward of Arlington, VA; two daughters, Janis and Cristina of Woodbridge, VA; two sons, Romeo of San Diego, CA and Jimi of Woodbridge, VA; three step-children, Ashley, Zach, and Jaime Needham of Arlington, VA; surrogate sister, Yvonne Rigney of Arlington, VA; four cousins, Chuck, Hal, Doug, and James Woodward; three dedicated therapy dogs, Pebbles, Tina Turner, and Lola; and his wonderful friends, which number all the people he ever met. A military funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery will take place in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Garry's memory would be appreciated to either the Namgyal Monastery (www.namgyal.org), the Arlington Free Clinic (www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org), Food and Friends (www.foodandfriends.org), the Capital Hospice (www.capitalcaring.org) or the charity of your choice. Alternatively/additionally, please take time to meditate about the wonderful impact Garry had on your life. Arrangements under the direction of Arlington Funeral Home, Arlington, VA.