John Stephen Garvan III

March 27, 1945 - September 2, 2018

Carmel, California

John S. Garvan III, “The Piano Man,” succumbed to ALS

(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Lou Gehrig’s disease) on

September 2, 2018 in Carmel, after battling

the disease for four years. John was a dedicated

runner, hiker, bicyclist, and cruciverbalist.

He loved long walks by the ocean

in Pacific Grove and sitting on his favorite

bench to polish off crossword puzzles from

the NY Times and Wall Street Journal. He

loved to hike Garland Ranch and the hills surrounding

Carmel Valley Ranch.

John was an accomplished pianist, church organist, and

choir director. Music was an important, enduring part of

his life from childhood, when he studied classical piano

under his mother’s tutelage from age three. He learned

to love and play all of the great masters, from Mozart to

Chopin, and Rachmaninoff to Vidor.

Born in New Britain, CT. John graduated from The

Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT and earned a B.A. in

English Literature from Yale University, where he sang in

the Glee Club and the Baker’s Dozen a capella singing

group.

After serving in the U.S. Navy as a Communications officer

aboard a destroyer, he moved to Vermont and worked

as an Assistant Editor of a weekly newspaper. In 1975,

John joined Xerox Corporation, where he held a number

of field and headquarters positions. Subsequently, he

joined M.R. Communications Consultants, where he became

Vice President of the Northeast Region.

In 1993 he changed careers and became a Development

Officer for private secondary schools, beginning with

his alma mater, Hotchkiss, and later Phillips Academy in

Massachusetts, Sage Hill School in California, and Avon

Old Farms and Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut.

In his fundraising capacity with Loomis Chaffee, John

met alumna Nancy Budd, a Connecticut native living in

Pacific Grove. In 2011, he packed up his baby grand piano

and moved from Connecticut to be with her. They

were married in 2013.

John was a devoted volunteer for ITN Monterey County,

the transportation service for seniors. In 2014, he received

their Volunteer of the Year award. He was an active

church member, serving as a Vestry Member and choir

member at several churches throughout his life, and ultimately

as a Vestry Member at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal

Church in Carmel Valley.

In addition to his wife Nancy, John is survived by his

brother, Mike, of Brewster, MA., two daughters, Emily

Lines of Concord, MA. and Sarah Bonelli of Monroe, CT.,

and two grandsons. He was predeceased by his parents,

Virginia Giles and John Garvan, Jr., and his sister, Laura

Farnsworth.

The family is grateful for the loving care and attention

John received during his battle with ALS, from Yanira

Pereira, Miriam and Herman Fickewirth of Agape of

Carmel, and especially Jeanne Marino, Certified Senior

Advocate, who provided companionship, caring, and guidance

for John and his family during the last year.

A Celebration of Life with Music for John Stephen Garvan III

will be held at 01:00 PM Thursday, October 25th,

at St. Dunstan’s Church in Carmel Valley.

The Reverend Rob Fisher will be presiding at the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory

to the St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church,

28005 Robinson Canyon Rd., Carmel, CA 93923 or to ITN

Monterey County (www.itnmontereycounty.org).

Messages for the family may be left at thepaulmortuary.com.