John S. Garvey, 80, who was proud to say he was born in the Bronx, and began work as an apprentice printer who rose to be a successful printing executive, died Tuesday, May 23, 2017. He was a Sudoku whiz; an avid Yankees fan; a long-suffering Jets fan who later became a hopeful Gators and Jaguars fan; a dog lover; and an all-around great guy who was known as “The Garv.”
He died in his sleep at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, where he lived with his wife of 53 years, Susan Rohan Garvey. They moved to Florida in 2006 from New Canaan, Connecticut, when he retired as executive vice president of operations and administration at PARADE magazine, then owned by a division of Conde Nast. He was responsible for all manufacturing, purchasing and facilities operations at magazine headquarters in Manhattan, New York.
Mr. Garvey was born on Feb. 23, 1937, the second of five children of Francis and Margaret Loughran Garvey. He was educated in parochial schools in the Bronx and New Rochelle, New York, and attended Wichita State University in Kansas while serving in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps.
He began work as an apprentice printer with a group of daily newspapers in Westchester County, New York, that were later acquired by Gannett, and rose through the ranks to hold various managerial positions. He was named production manager of the nine-paper group in 1976.
Three years later, he accepted a position as production director of Florida TODAY in Brevard County, another Gannett property. In 1980, he joined the start-up team of USA TODAY, the Gannett daily that revolutionized the industry. He was vice president of production, and later vice president of production of USA WEEKEND magazine, based at company headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. He joined PARADE in 1990.
Mr. Garvey was a member of the advisory board of the New York University School of Graphic Arts. He received numerous honors, including the 2007 Luminaire Award from the Partnership in Print Production and the Boy Scouts of America Good Scout Award.
He learned to play golf as a caddy at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. He was a member of Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, and Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, and its board of directors. He also was a member of the board of directors of The Plantation at Ponte Vedra.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth (Joseph) Barrett, and two granddaughters, Erin and Reagan Barrett, all of Vienna, Virginia; two sisters, Kathleen (Jay) Morris of South Bristol, Maine, and Eileen Garvey of Cortlandt Manor, New York; and a brother, Frank Garvey of Fairfield, Connecticut. A sister, Mary Healy of Yonkers, New York, predeceased him.
A funeral Mass in celebration of his life was held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ponte Vedra Beach on Wednesday, May 31, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make a contribution in his memory may consider The Plantation Foundation, 101 Plantation Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082, or the charity of one’s choice.
Please visit the online tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com. Services are under the direction and care of Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home.
