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Garrison Holt Davidson

1935 - 2017

Garrison Holt Davidson obituary, 1935-2017, Ithaca, NY

BORN

1935

DIED

2017

FUNERAL HOME

Bangs Funeral Home, Inc. - Ithaca

209 W Green St.

Ithaca, New York

Garrison Davidson Obituary

Garrison Holt Davidson Jr.

Ithaca - Garrison Holt Davidson Jr., 82, died on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2017 in Ithaca after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Gary was born on December 12, 1935 in Newburgh, New York to Lt. Gen. Garrison "Gar" Davidson and Verone Greunther Davidson when they were first stationed at West Point. The family lived in many places over the years from Hawaii to Washington D.C. At Cornell University, Gary was a member of the varsity baseball team, Phi Delta Theta, and Navy ROTC. Upon graduation, he served in the Pentagon for two years. He married his first wife Janet Toll and they settled in Los Angeles in 1959. He married Marjan (Janie) Carasik in 2003.

Gary was a fantastic father to his children, always encouraging their interests and sharing his own boyish enthusiasm for sports. He coached their Little League and other sports teams. He touched the lives of many young people who have now passed Gary's unique legacy of kind fatherly instruction to their own children. He taught them to win and lose with equal grace. Gary continued his passion for athletics all his life. For many years, he joyfully played on his adult sons' slow pitch softball team on the dusty diamonds of Los Angeles. He also played a great game of tennis into his later seventies.

Gary spent his working career as a financial auditor for several companies, eventually retiring from Iron Mountain Records Management in 2003. He was proud of his forty years of service as a board member of the International Institute of Los Angeles. This is a large organization dedicated to helping refugees and immigrants get a good start and feel welcome in their new country. Gary delighted in the community of St. Brendan's Catholic Church and the activities of its Men's Club.

At his 45th Cornell reunion in 2003, he met classmate Marjan (Janie) Carasik, who had been a widow for three years. She possessed the same kind spirit, community values, and dedication to family that he did. For three weeks Gary asked, "If I asked you to marry me, would you say yes?" Finally her response came: "If I said yes, would you marry me?" That fall, Gary and Janie were married in South Egremont, Massachusetts surrounded by all of their children. Each was lovingly welcomed into the other's family. Gary delighted in reprising his role of doting grandfather with Janie's grandchildren. Gary often said, "I'm so glad we married when we were still so young!"

After spending four active, precious, and joyful years in South Egremont, Janie and Gary moved to Kendal at Ithaca. Gary cherished his City Club membership and the friends and activities at Kendal and beyond. He attended weekly mass at St. Catherine of Siena parish almost without fail. He was always welcomed warmly. Gary and Janie were likewise welcomed into Temple Tikkun V'Or.

Gary's health challenges became clear in 2010. Later in 2015, as his health deteriorated further, he needed far more care than his wife could provide at home. He moved to Cascadilla House and later to Owasco (both at Kendal) Members of the Kendal staff were so able to see the human being as separate from the disease. We are forever grateful for their gentle care.

Fr Joe Marcoux, Rabbi Walt and our children were at his bedside in Gary's last days, each bringing blessings, prayers and peace.

Gary is survived by his wife, Marjan Schneider Carasik, his children, Karen (Jerry) Barnett, Garr Davidson, Greg (Helen Wilmot) Davidson, Jennifer Davidson, his children acquired by marriage, Rimme (Jonathan) Buck, Lauren (Christopher Norman) Carasik, and Michael Jaffe, as well as his grandchildren, Michael and Evan Barnett, Jane and Catherine Davidson, Rory and Tierna Davidson, Zoë and Alea Buck, and Emily, Maya, Anna, and Elijah Norman. Gary is also survived by all his siblings, Tom (Connie) Davidson, Alan "Skip" Davidson, Linda Hurst, Bonny (Ken Durell) Davidson, and Gail Davidson.

Our family welcomes your memories and stories about Gary and would love to hear from you. He will be remembered by us as being steadfast and rock solid. He always had a twinkle in his eye. He was one of the kindest men we have known. Rabbi Brian Walt said it best: "He was such a good man and it is so appropriate that he died on a day of such profound meaning to him. His goodness was rooted in his Christian faith."

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gary's memory to The Garrison Holt Davidson, Jr. Fund at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 309 Siena Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850 or the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, 90 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016. For future information, please see Bang's Funeral Home at www.bangsfuneralhome.com.

In springtime the family will gather in Los Angeles for a celebration of his life.

He loved and is loved.

Long may he wave

Published by Ithaca Journal on Jan. 8, 2018.
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Hello Davidson Family! Most years i think of you all at the beginning of May because I remember birthdays and know Garr and Greg's is tomorrow, May 3! I have tried to Google you hoping to see how you're doing but have never been successfu! until now! I hope you remember me as your next door neighbor, Alex Robin and the days on Ridgewood with Susie Valdez, Matthew Klink, Dwight Hodgekiss, Debbie Chan, Theresa Williams, and Mikey Anton. I have great memories of those days before I had to move away.

I remember your dad listening to baseball on his AM radio in the front yard...Dodgers and Oxidental College.

My best to you all and condolences on the loss of your dad. I see that some time has passed since and I hope all of you are getting along well!

All my best,
Alex

Alexandra Robin

Friend

May 2, 2019

I spent so many fun days on Ridgewood riding bikes with Jenny and the neighborhood kids. I remember checking out 8 tracks in the family room while Mr Davidson listened to Vin Scully on a portable radio while doing yard work. I never played little League, but he seemed like he would have been a great coach. I'm sorry for your loss.

Annie (Gregory) Lohr

March 5, 2018

May your light forever shine in the hearts and minds of those your life touched.

Terry

January 8, 2018

My deepest sympathy in the passing of this dear man. Both and honor and privilege to have cared for him at Kendal...many were the times we shared laughter in the little things of life. Gary has forever etched his memory in my mind ... he was a great man.

Terry T

January 8, 2018

Dear Janie, know you are in my thoughts and also in fond memories of you & Garrison joining us for Enhance Fitness classes at Kendal. It was always a pleasure seeing both of you work out together.
Sending hugs from AZ.
Carol (& Tom) Fuller

Carol Fuller

January 8, 2018

My sincerest sympathy in your great loss of Garrison. Many feel that death is a natural part of life, but we were created to enjoy earth's beauty forever, not a limited amount of years. God "put eternity" into our hearts, the desire to live forever. (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Dee

January 6, 2018

Hearing this news truly saddens our hearts. Remember the good times.

Wilson & Louise Evans

January 5, 2018

My heartfelt condolences to Mr. Davidson's loving family. May Gods loving kindness bring you comfort and strength at this very difficult time and help you heal your broken hearts. Take comfort in the words in the book of John 6:40; Thru His word HE gives us the hope of seeing our loved one again.

Rest in peace. John 3:16
Julia

January 5, 2018

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