Michael Victor Garzillo

ROCHESTER - Michael Victor Garzillo, of Rochester, N.H., died Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 82, at Frisbie Memorial Hospital after a period of failing health. His family was by his side. His intelligence and generosity personified a man who loved his family, teaching, writing, editing, hunting, fishing, boating, camping, and his adopted home town of Rochester for forty-five years. His humor, effort, and concern for others were why he was appreciated, loved, and will always be missed.

He was predeceased by parents Michael D. Garzillo and Anne (DeMarco) Garzillo of Plainfield, N.J., and is survived by his loving wife of fifty-seven years, Jean (Furnari) Garzillo, as well as son Jon Garzillo and his wife Tina of King of Prussia, Pa., son Tom Garzillo and his wife Terri of McKinney, Texas, and son Michael D. Garzillo and his wife Carol of Beaverton, Ore. He is also survived by his sister Victoria (Garzillo) Vuolde and her husband George of N.J., brother-in-law Fred Tuozzolo and wife Marti of Pa., grandchildren Drew, Christian, Isabella, Charlie, Deanna, Samantha, Lauren (Garzillo) Addalli and husband Peter.

Michael was born June 19, 1935 in Plainfield, N.J., graduated from Plainfield High School (Plainfield, N.J.) in 1953, was VP of his senior class, a guard on his state champion football team, and a member of the MAC club. After attending Rutgers University as a Forestry Major, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in active duty from 1954 until 1957 and was honorably discharged as a Sargent (E4); his medals included National Defense Service Medal and Expert Rifleman. The GI Bill allowed him to enroll in Montclair State University. He graduated in June, 1961 with a BA in Education. He met wife Jean there; they married in 1960.

After teaching for two years in New Jersey, he became an agent with Allstate Insurance, was promoted to District Sales Manager, and remained one for ten years while earning multiple awards. In 1972 he moved his family to New Hampshire to become the owner-operator of Glidden's Tackle Shop, renaming it Sunrise Sports Center, because of his love of the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and teaching others. However, since owning the store kept him from doing the activities he loved, he dissolved the sporting goods store to become a classroom teacher again.

In 1974, he became a teacher at McClelland School. A year later, he was the teaching-principal at Maple School, and then became the Vice Principal of Spaulding Junior High. Next, he was an English teacher at Spaulding High School. He taught at SHS for over twenty years and created the Power Reading, Journalism, and Photography curriculum. He received his Master's in Education from UNH in 1976, earned numerous teacher appreciation awards and certificates, plus he was the Vice President of the Rochester Teacher's Union; his contributions included the sick bank as well as excellent, lifelong benefits. He loved teaching because of the students. They remember him fondly.

In the early 1970s he also became a columnist for the Foster's Daily Democrat for twenty-four years before moving to the Portsmouth Herald. In 1981 he became a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, including President in 1999. He was awarded a Lifetime Membership because of his many contributions to outdoor writing and editing, which included being a freelance writer and contributing editor of Outdoor Times, he wrote the New Hampshire chapter for Macmillan Fishing Encyclopedia, was the NH editor for the New York Sportsmen magazine, was the NH editor of Outdoor Life Magazine for seventeen years, and was a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America for six years. He volunteered for the New Hampshire Fish & Game's Partners in Conservation, and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration.

He also supported a variety of children and veteran's charities, and was a member of the Order Of Sons of Italy in America for forty years. He is also survived by niece-goddaughter Gina (Vuolde) Olkowski, nephew Georgio Vuolde, niece Vicky (Vuolde) Zahler, their spouses and children.

His family would like to thank the staff of Frisbie Memorial Hospital, as well as the Cornerstone VNA of Rochester, for their excellent care and compassion.

SERVICES: Family and friends may visit Saturday, September 2, 2017, for a viewing from 1-2:30 p.m., at R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., in Rochester. The memorial celebration will follow at 2:30 p.m., in the chapel of the funeral home, officiated by Reverend Thomas Duston.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mike's name to his favorite charities: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Box 50, Memphis, TN, or Toys for Tots, National Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 4002036, Des Moines, Iowa, or the charity of your choice. To sign the online guestbook please go to www.edgerlyfh.com.