Garrett John Muldoon

MULDOON, Garrett John, 79, of Deerfield Beach, FL, died peacefully on Monday, March 6, 2017, in the presence of family. Born May 7, 1937, in New York, NY, he was the son of John and Anne (nee: Cawley) Muldoon, both originally from Ireland. Garrett attended Eymard Preparatory Seminary in Hyde Park, NY, and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, before proudly serving as a journalist in the U.S. Navy in Taiwan. Upon being honorably discharged, he returned to the U.S. and began a family. A talented artist and writer, he nevertheless found early professional success in sales, but for the last four decades of his life and up until a month before his death, Garrett worked tirelessly in the treatment of substance abuse and addiction. Having begun his own recovery on November 12, 1975, he dedicated himself to a life of service, bringing the message of recovery through the development of a spiritual life to men and women of all ages and stations: the incarcerated, union members, patients in hospitals and treatment centers, men in halfway houses recently released from prison. Throughout his church and recovery communities, he was known as a moving speaker and leader of great wit and compassion and was often referred to as "a father to many." Garrett was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved sister Mary Cadogan. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Kimberly, their daughter Jessica Fitzgerald, his daughter Kathleen Muldoon, sons Michael (Rebecca) and Sean (Savio,) granddaughters Kailey Fitzgerald and Samantha Muldoon, grandson Wesley Muldoon, sister-in-law Theresa Valli, brothers-in-law Thomas Cadogan, Mathew Lane, and Andrew Lane, and many nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, colleagues, and friends. A funeral mass will be held at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Deerfield Beach, FL, on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. Fr. Richard Moran and Fr. Dariusz Zarebski presiding. He will be buried at the South Florida National Cemetery in Palm Beach County, FL, in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Food for the Poor and/or Angels of Hope. Arrangements by Kraeer-Becker Funeral Home in Deerfield Beach, FL.