Name: Visitation for Joseph C. GIRARD
Start: 2023-04-27T15:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-04-27T19:00:00.000Z
Location: D. Lawrence Ginnane Funeral Home

GIRARD - Joseph C.
Of Kenmore, NY April 23, 2023. Beloved husband of 49 years to the late Norma J. Carr Girard. Dear father of John (Ann Marie) Girard, Patti (Edward) Melber and the late Joseph (late Terri) Girard; loving Grandfather of Kelly (Micheal) Monde, Edward (Lauren) Melber Jr., Trisha (Alex) Bondar, Christopher (Jeffri Peralta) Girard, Timothy (Christine) Melber, Alicia Girard, Grace Melber and the late Michael Girard; great-grandfather of Julia, Emily, Benjamin, Nora, Aurora, Parker, Madison and Caroline; brother of the late Vincent (late Evelyn) Girardi, late Anthony (late Colette) Girard, late Marie (late Christ) Nichols, late Rose (late Joseph) Delmont and the late Dolores SanFilippo; Best friend and brother-in-law of Robert (Donna Gauthier) Carr; also survived by many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at D. LAWRENCE GINNANE FUNERAL HOME 3215 Delaware Ave., Kenmore Thursday 3-7 PM. All are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Paul's RC Church Delaware Ave at Victoria Blvd. Kenmore Friday at 10 AM. Please meet at church. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Joe was a US Army Veteran and retired physical education teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools. Memorial contributions to Hospice Foundation PO Box 590 Buffalo, 14240 are preferred. Condolences may be sent to
www.GinnaneFuneralHome.com

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Published by Buffalo News on Apr. 25, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph GIRARD

27 Entries

Amiee Kennedy

April 8, 2025

He was my gym/swim teacher at Hutch-tech. Always kind to me!

Rich Ford

September 3, 2023

Joe Girard was a wonderful swim coach and teacher at Hutch Tech HS.

John Serfustini

May 23, 2023

Condolences to the family of this great man. He was my coach at Tech from 1962 to 1966. Aside from the inspiration he gave the swimmers, he also instilled a lifelong lesson that respect is something you have to have before you can get.

Jerry Dosher

May 3, 2023

Tech Grad of 75. Coach Girard was well respected and liked by all at the school. A class act to be sure. Thanks Coach...RIP

Julie Tronolone (first cousin)

April 28, 2023

I am so sorry that I could not attend the funeral. Joe was the rock of the family and everyone loved him. He was kind and truly interested in what you had to say. I was proud to be related to him. His entire family loved him and our collective loss is so great. He was a real servant of God in his deeds and actions.
God Bless him and all of his family.

With love,
Julie Tronolone

John West

April 28, 2023

Coach Joe Girard had such an impact my life. I have coached swimming at many levels to much success based on the foundation that he provided.
His candy bar reward for best times proved to motivate many of my swimmers.
My wife and I still track our swim mileage like we did at Hutch Tech.
He was a blessing and I am so thankful to have known him.
God Bless.

Donna Tomasulo West

April 27, 2023

Coach Girard is a great, inspirational, and gentle soul. I am so grateful to have had the privilege of knowing him through my high school years on the swim team. To this day, my husband and I still swim with a masters´ team and often remember our dear Coach.
I pray for strength, comfort, and peace for all of his loved ones.

Joelle Billingsley

April 27, 2023

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Myrkol Boldens

April 27, 2023

My sincere condolences to the family of Coach Girard. I can recall many years later not ever being afraid to swim or large bodies of water thanks to his dedication and diligence to ensure we knew how to survive in the water. I was less then idea at the time with an early swim class but he highly encouraged everyone to get on the water!

Karl F Kozlowski, PhD.

April 27, 2023

A tremendous teacher, Coach, student advocate and mentor. His compassion, dedication to his craft and humor were constantly apparent. I remember so fondly all of his lessons my freshman year. His upside down valentine for breaststroke still rings in my head as does him reminding us that if we wanted to be a true swimmer that pool ladders were off limits. Though he retired while I was still at Hutch-Tech, I was truly blessed enough to be taught and coached by both him and for that I consider myself one of the luckiest Techtonians alive. May he rest in peace and enjoy his goggles and snorkel in the big pool in the sky!

Roseanne Grasha

April 26, 2023

Joe you were such a sweet & kind man. True friend, mentor and inspiration to all who knew you. We are heartbroken you are no longer with us. I am heartbroken I can no longer bake you cookies or hear your fun loving & happy voice. Rest in peace and thank you for being so wonderful to us all.

Valerie Vinson

April 26, 2023

My condolences to the family of Coach Girard. Praying that you have peace as you grieve his passing.

Faithful Blessings Bouquet - VASE INCLUDED

Michael Lillis

Sent Flowers

Peter SantaLucia, MD

April 26, 2023

He was my tennis coach. My freshman yr when I tried out I wasn´t that good and he told me he could keep me on team but I would never play and that instead I should work on getting better. I took that as a challenge, and did just that -I would hit the ball against the wall at Buf State every day and got a lot better. Soph yr I made starting spot (second doubles). I continued to work hard and 3rd yr played 2nd singles, and Senior Yr first singles and was was of top 3 players in league. He was very subtly a master motivator and truly a fine man! He also taught me survival swimming and all the swim strokes I still use today and made me very comfortable in the water such that I now scuba dive. Thx Mr. Girard you were one of a kind and will be missed!

Carl Chambers

April 26, 2023

My condolences to Mr. Girard's family and friends. I was his former student and on the swim team at Hutch-Tech (Class of 1983). He also coached and taught my three brothers (Kevin, Keith, and John). He was a sweet man and taught me a lot that I've used it throughout my life. Recently, I've been swimming with my two sons a few times a week over the past year and have referred to Mr. Girard regularly in my swimming advice to them both. Like me they both love swimming. Thanks Mr. Girard and sorry that I didn't swim all 4 years for you. I had to chose between hockey and swimming and it was always a tough choice for me but mistakenly thought I was a better hockey player. To put in to perspective how important Mr. G was to me... I've been swimming my entire life (lifeguard, swim instructor, triathlon, general fitness, etc.) and haven't played hockey since my mid 20s. The "jellyfish float" he taught us in high school probably saved my life and a friends when we were caught in a serious ocean rip current in college and pulled out to sea for about an hour or two. RIP Mr. G. I thought about you during my swim this morning. Love and light,
Carl Chambers

Bob Kolarczyk

April 26, 2023

May Coach Girard RIP. He was our tennis coach at Tech in the 1970s. Glad we could win a lot of matches for him.

Michael Ganis

April 26, 2023

He was my swim coach 77-80. Taught me so much. He will be missed.

Sandy

April 26, 2023

My tennis coach a HCTHS from `75-`79. He used to drive us to matches in his VW Bug. Such fond memories of a lovely man.

Sandy Murray
Class of `79

John Swantek

April 26, 2023

He was my teacher and swim Coach from `83 to `87. What a great Coach and even more, a wonderful person. He and his family will be in my prayers. God Bless.

Tara Wdzieczny

April 26, 2023

Rest in eternal peace Mr. Girard
May your family and friends find peace & comfort during this sad time.
-Tara Wdzieczny, Hutch Tech Alumni.

Mary Beth Scumaci

April 26, 2023

What a wonderful man and family! May your beautiful memories help ease your sorrow during this challenging times. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers!

Joe Gentile

April 26, 2023

My deepest condolences. Joe was a master teacher who positively impacted all those around him! He was a kind, considerate person who served as a role model for the rest of us

George Degener

April 26, 2023

Great man, great teacher abd great coach! There was never anyone better. I learned a lot from him on patience, "play the long game gets you more rather that playing the short game " thanks coach Joe! You will be missed.
-George Degener, Class '81, Hutch Tech Swim Team Mgr.

Fran Daumen

April 26, 2023

Joe was a great teacher and one of the nicest people I ever met. He was always Tech Proud.

Madeline Augustine

April 26, 2023

Joe was a wonderful, wonderful friendly person and excellent teacher, loved by his students. Always enjoyed chatting with him.

Ken Boudreau

April 25, 2023

I served on the Hutch Tech faculty with Joe for 13 years. He was a great mentor and role model as a teacher and coach, as well as one of the nicest men I have been privileged to know. My sincere condolences to his family.