Obituary of William R. Garrison

William (Bill) Garrison, 87, a native New Yorker and longtime Staten Island resident died on February 12, 2014 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Bill, a retired high school math and science teacher for the New York City Board of Education, was born in Manhattan, NYC, on October 19, 1926 , the son of the late Henry and Florence (Nagle) Garrison. After graduating from Stuyvesant High School he served in the US Army- Air Force in Germany at the end of WWII. Bill earned a bachelor's degree from Queens College and a Master of Science in Education from Wagner College. As a high school home instruction teacher, he taught sick, injured and special-needs students one-on-one in their homes on Staten Island. He had a special talent for connecting with his students. Many of them had their best academic successes under his tutelage. Bill met his wife Elinor after WWII when they were both working in Manhattan. Once married, they moved to Staten Island to start their family. Bill was an active member of the Oakwood Heights Community Church, serving as a Sunday School Teacher and a Deacon. He was also a member of the church's bowling team for many years. Bill was a life-long dog lover, Mets fan and Giants fan. After his retirement from teaching, Bill enjoyed traveling within the United States and to Europe, making several trips to Italy and England. He continued to pursue his interests in computers, investments, walking, and cooking, and was devoted to his family and friends. He is survived by Elinor, his wife of 56 years; his three children, Leslie Garrison (Michael Weiss) of Bellevue Washington; Claire Garrison Quadri (Chip Quadri) of Westfield, New York; John Garrison (Annette Caracappa) of Manahawkin, New Jersey; six grandchildren; and his brother-in-law Bob Nolan (Flossie Nolan) of North Bennington, Vermont. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Lillian Garrison and Lorraine Blau. A private family memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 (alz.org) or to the Asbury Springhill Foundation, 2323 Edinboro Road, Erie, PA 16509. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY, 14787. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send the Garrison family a message of sympathy and for further information.