Eric Garrison

Eric Garrison, 73, of Hyde Park, NY, passed away Friday, September 5, 2025 at the Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Eric was born on May 11, 1952, to Charles and Elorsa Garrison in Schenectady, NY. His family lived in both Schenectady and Kentucky before settling in Hyde Park, NY. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, Eric spent a year at Ithaca College before transferring to Marist College (now Marist University) where he completed an undergraduate degree in English in 1974. Eric then attended Fordham University and completed his Master's degree in Communications in 1977.
In 1979, Eric began work as a fourth grade apprentice at New Canaan Country School in New Canaan, CT. He spent the next two years as a sixth grade teacher before moving to the Upper School to teach seventh and ninth grade English and History. Eric was a lover of both grammar and the Civil War, delighting in both sentence diagramming and his annual class field trip to the battlefields of Gettysburg. He also ran the Drama program, teaching students how to project from the stage, building and painting sets, and directing dozens of dramatic and musical productions during his tenure. He and his wife, Christina, whom he married in 1982, worked side by side at NCCS until their retirement in 2013.
During this time, Eric grew his passion for music, playing in various bands during his twenties before venturing onto the acoustic scene as a solo singer/songwriter. He notched several radio and magazine interviews, as well as tours throughout the Midwest and Southeast, while running a home recording studio called China Moon Productions. Eric also worked as a sound engineer for the Yorktown Regional Theater Company, as well as providing sound for other events throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties. His Southeast travels brought him to the Swannanoa Gathering, in Asheville, NC, where he ran their Contemporary Folk Week program for several years. Eric was an avid storyteller and taught several classes on the art of stage performance during his time there. He loved the music above all else and could often be found in the "jam tent" during the evenings, sharing stories and songs late into the night. After leaving Swannaoa, Eric continued this tradition while running Cedar Run, his own series of music workshops, in upstate NY for three years.
Eric's other interests included woodworking, and he made rustic furniture out of locally sourced materials. He loved to garden, and spent hours turning over his garden beds, planting, weeding, and harvesting onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and other vegetables. Eric turned his love of history and the Hudson Valley into a way to stay busy during retirement, volunteering as a tour guide with the National Park Service at various National Historic Sites in the area including the Vanderbilt Mansion, and the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, including Top Cottage. He read extensively on both families, always looking for stories and facts that would captivate his listeners. He continued to showcase his musical chops, playing in Maggie's Farm, a Bob Dylan tribute band, as well as an Irish band known as Flash Company. To Ann Teed, he was known as "Fireball", a guitar- and mandolin-wielding member of "Hurricane Annie and the Attaboys", playing in venues throughout Dutchess and local counties.
Eric wore many hats throughout his lifetime, but those most important to him centered around his family. He was a loving husband; he and his wife, Chris, spent 43 years together before his passing. He was a dad, predeceased by daughter Jimmi and survived by son and daughter-in-law Jason andJenica, as well as daughter and daughter-in-law Amanda and Christina. He was a brother and brother-in-law, survived by sister Vonnie and her husband Stephen. He was a son, predeceased by parents Charles and Elorsa Garrison. He was an uncle, survived by nephew Josh, his wife Melissa, and their children Giovanna and Veronica, and niece Rachael, and her children Kassie, Max, and Mason. And he was a doting dog dad, predeceased by Samantha, Dave, Mike, and Finnigan, and survived by Taisce, his "treasure".
In keeping with Eric's wishes, cremation has taken place.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 20th at 12pm at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 55 Wilbur Blvd, Poughkeepsie, NY.
Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet's Funeral Home. To send an online condolence or for directions, please visit Eric's obituary page at www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.