James G. Garry

James (“Jim”) Gerard Garry, 87, of Naples, Florida passed away peacefully on the evening of October 16, 2021 with his loving wife, Suzanne, by his side. Jim was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on January 4, 1934 to Elizabeth (Shea) and Martin Garry.

A good student, he graduated from St. John’s High School in Cambridge in 1951 and received his FAA A&P license from East Coast Aero Tech in 1952. He worked for Northeast Airlines as an A&P mechanic until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February 1953. While in the Air Force he was based in New Hampshire until 1956 when he transferred to Charleston Air Force Base. He was released from active service as a Staff Sergeant on February 3, 1957.

To pursue his love of flying, Jim started work in 1957 for Raytheon Technologies Corporation as an A&P mechanic where he received his commercial and multi-engine licenses, and his F-27 type and DC-3 type ratings. In July 1963, he was hired as a co-pilot by Mohawk Airlines, based in Utica, New York. Jim was promoted to Captain at then-Allegheny Airlines in 1972. Allegheny was the forerunner to USAir/US Airways, and Jim enjoyed flying for the company as a Captain until he retired in January 1994, logging over 30,000 hours. His career culminated in flying international flights on a Boeing 767. In his retirement, he continued flying as a private pilot for Health Management Associates, in Naples, Florida, until January 2005.

Jim was a long-time resident of Pelican Bay in Naples, Florida, having moved to Naples in 1981. In the 1980s, he and his wife operated the Kangaroo Klub children’s store. Jim loved his family, the great sunsets in Naples, summers in Wells, Maine and New England sports teams; he enjoyed golf and tennis too.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Elizabeth, brother and sister-in-law Martin and Mary (Burke) Garry, sister and brother-in-law Mary (Garry) and Bob Molloy, brother-in-law John Finch, and infant son James Garry.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Suzanne (Prince) Garry, sister Betty Finch, sister and brother-in-law Joan and George Stewart, daughter Kathy Galvin, son and daughter-in-law Kevin and Susan (Peck) Garry, daughter and son-in-law Kristen Garry and Robert Rudnick, son and daughter-in-law Shaun and Amy (Dalen) Garry, six grandchildren, Jessica Galvin, Allison Galvin, Ryan Garry, Erin Garry, Aria Garry, and Aidan Garry, and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral will take place at Saint William Catholic Church at 601 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL at 9:45am on Friday, November 5th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jim’s name to St. Matthew’s House (stmatthewshouse.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Garry family.