NORWICH – Bartholomew C. “Bart” Garito, 89, of Norwich, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at the NYS Veterans’ Home in Oxford.
Born Sept. 5, 1922, Bart was the son of Angelo and Angelina (Natoli) Garito. He was a life-long resident of Norwich and enjoyed growing up here, always having plenty of interesting stories to share. Bart was a member of the Norwich YMCA throughout his junior and senior high school days. Although the Y did not have a pool at that time, he enjoyed table tennis and the gym. While in high school, Bart won the Senior High Table Tennis Championship and also the YMCA championship that year. He always enjoyed sports and played both JV and Varsity Baseball. Bart joined the track team, earned three varsity letters and was elected captain during his senior year. He set the record in the 440 yard dash at 53 seconds which stood for several years. Bart loved football and played every minute of every game during his junior and senior years. He also played intramural basketball and was the manager of the varsity team. During his graduation, Bart received the David Lee Award, given annually to the person selected as the best all-round athlete in the senior class.
Bart attended the University of Buffalo during 1942-1943, taking engineering and electronics courses. He received notice to report to Fort Dix, N.J. in July of 1943 for induction into the U.S. Army. He began Radio School Training and was sent to England where he became part of the radio group in his battalion. Fluent in French, Bart was selected to teach simple French to about two dozen men, handy knowledge when they hit mainland Europe. A radio crew which was to land in Normandy on June 6th all drowned in the English Channel before they got to shore, so Bart’s crew of six men was chosen to replace them. Shortly after the Germans surrendered to the Allies, there were several American officers at the Supreme Headquarters. While walking alone along a pathway, three officers approached Bart. He saluted and all returned the salute … the officers were Generals Eisenhower, Patton and Bradley. While waiting to move to England, someone decided to hold a table tennis tournament. Bart won and received a personally autographed photograph of General Bradley “… to Bart Garito, Omar N. Bradley.”
Upon his discharge, Bart finalized plans to attend Syracuse University and lived in the same boarding house until he graduated. While travelling back and forth to Norwich on weekends, Bart met Molly Spadaro. A year later, their paths crossed again and he asked her for a date. They were engaged on Feb. 29, 1948 and married on October 16, of that year in St. Bartholomew’s Church. That September, Bart began work at General Laboratory Associates as Head of Engineering Records and, eventually, Marketing Administration. He left the company for a short time, but returned as Senior Contracts Administrator until his retirement.
Bart joined the Knights of Columbus while still in his twenties and held several offices and was Grand Knight twice, twenty years apart. Another favorite activity was the “Glickers,” a group of men from GLA who formed this social group in 1955. For decades they got together at least three times a year.
Travel was a much anticipated pleasure to Bart and Molly and they enjoyed yearly trips. When they retired in March of 1985, Fort Myers, Florida became their winter home for many years until illness brought them back to Norwich.
Bart loved music, especially stage shows, his home and garden, Chinese cuisine and all good food! He loved children and babies and they enjoyed being around him as he was very engaging. He taught his grandchildren how to play chess and told the best stories to the little ones. Bart was very creative. He applied for a patent on a game he invented in 1958 – “Limit,” but it proved to be too expensive a venture. However, a few sets were made and enjoyed by family and friends.
Bart’s greatest love was his family. He is survived by his devoted wife, Molly, and five daughters and their husbands, Linda Boyer (Mike) of Kingston, Jo Ann Provo (Frank) of Manassas, Va., Kathy Silvestri (Bill) of Endwell, Karen Webb (Warren) of Norwich and Jacky Mikkonen of Peru, Maine. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, Kevin, Kara, Katie, Kurt, Monica, Steve, Amy, Brenda, Stephanie, Gregory, Leah, Gabriel and Hannah and six great grandchildren, Bodie, Allison, Thomas, Abby, Emily and Judah as well as several other family members and friends.
Bart’s family wishes to thank all of the staff of the NYS Veterans’ Home for their wonderful care.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Bart will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Bartholomew’s Church. Burial will take place at a later date in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Contributions in memory of Bart may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the Wilson Funeral Home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.