John Garvey

John S. Garvey, 80, who was proud to say he was born in the Bronx, began work as an apprentice printer and rose to be a successful printing executive, died Tuesday, May 23, 2017. He was a Sudoku whiz; avid Yankees fan; long suffering Jets fan who later became a hopeful Gators and Jaguars fan; a dog lover and all-around great guy who was known as “The Garv.”

He died in his sleep at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, where he lived with his wife of 53 years, Susan Rohan Garvey. They moved to Florida in 2006 from New Canaan, CT, when he retired as executive vice president of operations and administration at PARADE magazine, then owned by a division of Conde Nast. He was responsible for all manufacturing, purchasing and facilities operations at magazine headquarters in Manhattan, NY.

Mr. Garvey was born on Feb. 23, 1937, the second of five children of Francis and Margaret Loughran Garvey. He was educated in parochial schools in the Bronx and New Rochelle, NY, and attended Wichita State University in Kansas while serving in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps.

He began work as an apprentice printer with a group of daily newspapers in Westchester County, NY, that were later acquired by Gannett, and rose through the ranks to hold various managerial positions. He was named production manager of the 9-paper group in 1976.

Three years later he accepted a position as production director of Florida TODAY in Brevard County, another Gannett property. In 1980 he joined the start-up team of USA TODAY, the Gannett daily that revolutionized the industry. He was vice president of production, and later vice president of production of USA WEEKEND magazine, based at company headquarters in Arlington, VA. He joined PARADE in 1990.

Mr. Garvey was a member of  the advisory board of the New York University School of Graphic Arts. He received numerous honors, including the 2007 Luminaire Award from the Partnership in Print Production, and the Boy Scouts of America Good Scout Award.

He learned to play golf as a caddy at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY. He was a member of Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, VA; Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, CT and its board of directors. He also was a member of the board of directors of The Plantation at Ponte Vedra.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth (Joseph) Barrett, and two granddaughters, Erin and Reagan Barrett, all of Vienna, VA; two sisters, Kathleen (Jay) Morris of South Bristol, ME, Eileen Garvey of Cortlandt Manor, NY; and a brother, Frank Garvey of Fairfield, CT. A sister, Mary Healy of Yonkers, NY, predeceased him.

A funeral Mass in celebration of his life will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ponte Vedra Beach on Wednesday, May 31 at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make a contribution in his memory may consider The Plantation Foundation, 101 Plantation Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082, or the charity of one’s choice.