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| Douglas C. Garnham |
Douglas C. Garnham, 84, of Dublin, Ireland passed away on January 17, 2009 at his
home in St. Johnsville, NY
Douglas was born in Dublin, Ireland
on August 21, 1924, son of the late Thomas and Mary (Coyne) Garnham and educated by the Irish Christian Brothers. From 1946
to 1950 he served as a member of the Royal Air Force stationed in India and the Far East, returning to Ireland after his duty
where he met his wife Elizabeth (Caffrey) Garnham. The pair were married on September 10, 1951 and seven years later they
traveled with their children Douglas Jr., and Christine to the United States. It was in 1972 that he settled with his
family(now featuring two more children - sons Mark and Emmet) in Middletown, NY Quickly, he became involved in the local community,
chairing the first St. Patrick's Ball for the Irish American Club of Middletown. He became a founding member of the Friendly
Sons and Daughters of St. Patrick of Orange County and was the chairman of their first dance to benefit the Mayo Foundation.
Eventually, he became President of the Friendly Sons helping them to present a Festival of Irish Arts and Culture that included
14 workshops of the Gaelic Arts involving every member of the club, they produced the first production of "Siamsa",
an exciting evening of Irish entertainment, at Middletown High School and initiated the Book Donation Program to school libraries
in Orange County which enabled students to learn more about Ireland and her struggle for human rights.
Doug was
a founding member of the Mid-Hudson Parade Committee, a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus in the Middletown Council and a member
of both the American Legion and Division Four of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. It was with the AOH that he served as County
Historian for all divisions serving Orange County. He was honored by the Middletown Lions Club at their St. Patrick's
Day Luncheon and in 1990 he served as Grand Marshal of the Mid Hudson St. Patrick Day's Parade. In 2002 he and his wife
moved to St. Johnsville, NY where he became a member of the Oppenheim Historical Society. He was a practicing parishioner
of St. Patrick's R.C. Church in St. Johnsville.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, sons Douglas and wife
Micki, Mark and wife Dong Ok, Emmet and wife Jennifer and daughter Christine and her husband Eamon Dolan. He has five grandchildren
(Sean Lewis, Melissa Aurey, Douglas Garnham and Brian and Thomas Dolan) as well as four great grandchildren (Anthony, Tess,
Katie and Brian). He will be greatly missed.
The family will receive family and friends on Friday January 23, 2009
from 6-9pm at the Enea Family Funeral Home 9 Center St. Saint Johnsville, NY. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday
January 24, 2009 at 11am at St. Patrick's R.C. Church in St. Johnsville.
Private burial will take place at
the convenience of the family.
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