Scott Arthur Garretson

Scott Arthur Garretson, 74, a resident of Pendaries Village in Rociada, NM, passed away at St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, NM on September 10, 2025. He was born in DeKalb, Illinois on May 9, 1951, the second child of Homer Garretson (violinist) and Gloria Odegard (pianist). In keeping with his parents' musical background, he was delivered by Dr. Biss, husband of cellist Raya Garbousova and grandfather of concert pianist, Jonathan Biss. After an early childhood spent in graduate student housing in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, he spent his formative years in a small college town, Fredonia, New York, graduating from Fredonia High School in 1969. He was a serious reader from an early age, often astounding local librarians with the number of books he borrowed. During the heady '60's he formed a rhythm and blues garage band called "The Conspiracy" for which he played a mean harmonica. He then went on to study history under Marxist Eugene Genovese at the University of Rochester. After graduating, Scott attended the University of Chicago in history, ultimately working on a PhD dissertation in Early Modern European with Renaissance specialist, Eric Cochrane. Given the dearth of jobs in history, Scott pivoted mid-dissertation to attend law school at Washington University in Saint Louis where he edited the law review. Returning to his native Western New York State in the 1980's, Scott had a long career serving the people of Rochester, first in the District Attorney's Office and then as a Public Defender for Monroe County. It was there that he met his wife, Gloria Ross and her two children, Tiffani and Josh, to form a family. He maintained an interest in music, both classical and popular, continued to read voraciously, and was always up for a good discussion. He was a life-time member of the NRA and deeply committed to 2nd Amendment rights. After retirement, Scott and Gloria moved to Rociada, New Mexico where they enjoyed mountain life in the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
He is survived by his wife Gloria Garretson of Rociada; step-children, Tiffani Diggs of Washington and Josh of Missouri and a sister, Kate Garretson of New York City.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.gonzalesfunerals.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Billy G. Rogers at Gonzales Funerals & Cremations, 2315 Hot Springs Blvd., Las Vegas. NM 87701 505-425-9319
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