Richard Gregory Gara, 86, of Cazenovia, passed away on March 20, 2023, in St. Augustine, FL, after a short hospitalization. He is predeceased by his parents John P. and Elizabeth (Miller) Gara, his brother Jack Gara and son Brian Gara.
Dick is survived by his wife Kathleen (Schilo) Gara, daughter Bridget Gara (Michael) Stone and daughter-in-law Robin Whitman Gara. He was always happy giving advice to and sharing stories with his grandchildren: Hayley Stone (London, UK), Hanna Stone (New York City), Lindsay Stone (Rochester, N.Y.), Jack Stone (Austin, TX); Brian Gara (Charlotte, NC), Grace Gara (Cazenovia) and Faith Gara (San Bruno, CA). He was a great- grandfather to Isla.
Born in Glen Ridge, N.J. on July 14, 1936, Dick attended Christian Brothers Academy and graduated from Most Holy Rosary School in Syracuse. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Cold War. He graduated from Colgate University with a degree in economics and was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. Dick also played lacrosse for Colgate and later refereed for Connecticut prep schools.
Beginning his career in Connecticut, Dick worked in human resources for International Silver Company, AMF-Cuno and New England Die Casting until 1979 when he moved to Syracuse to work for parent company Crouse Hinds (now Cooper Industries) as manager of industrial relations. He retired from Caldwell Manufacturing in Rochester, N.Y., in 2002.
Dick’s community involvement included many years as an usher at St. James Church and serving on the board of directors at Wanderer’s Rest Humane Association. He was a member of the Cazenovia Country Club and Colgate Maroon Council. He loved sailing on Cazenovia Lake. Whether oceanside on fall trips to Chilmark, or winters spent on Anastasia Island, Dick was an avid reader. He loved traveling to London and Paris, but his most recent trip to Washington, D.C., aboard Syracuse Honor Flight Mission 17 on Sept. 24, 2022, was his favorite adventure.
There will be a funeral mass on Friday, April 21, at 11 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, 6 Green St., Cazenovia. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Honor Flight Syracuse Inc. P.O. Box 591, Syracuse, NY 13209, or Ronald McDonald House of Central New York, 1100 East Genesee St. Syracuse, NY 13210.
