Lasting Memories

Mansfield (Gary) White Garratt
July 1, 1947-Nov. 21, 2011
San Martin, California

Mansfield (Gary) White Garratt III died Monday, November 21st, 2011 at his home in San Martin, CA surrounded by his family. He was 64 years old and died from the progression of brain cancer.

Gary was born July 1, 1947 in Oakland, CA to Mansfield and Phyllis (Lindholm) Garratt Jr. After a short time living in Walnut Creek, Gary spent his childhood in San Mateo. He loved to build things and take them apart with his brothers Peter and Robert. He attended Highlands Elementary School and Borel Middle School before leaving to New Hampshire to attend high school at Holderness School. While at Holderness, Gary developed a passion for hockey and excelled on the school?s team. It was a passion he carried with him all his life, continuing to play in competitive leagues until age 63.

Gary graduated from the University of Denver in 1970 with a BA in Economics. While there he helped start the lacrosse program and was the team?s leading scorer in 1966.

After college Gary was a successful homebuilder and wheat farmer in Steamboat Springs, CO. He was an innovator in fertilization and crop placement and within a few years had the highest yielding crops in the area. He met his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Hobson, while in Colorado and they were married March 24, 1973 in Cincinnati, OH. Gary and Betsy had two children in Steamboat Springs. Tyler was born in 1975 and Jenny in 1978.

Gary brought his family back to the Bay Area in 1978 to help run Garratt-Callahan Co. (water treatment), a business his great grandfather founded in 1904. Gary?s responsibilities at Garratt-Callahan included serving as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors upon his retirement. He enjoyed working alongside his father, Mansfield Jr., his uncles, Bill and Dick, and his cousins, Jeff and Matt. Gary and his family settled in Woodside where he lived for 20 years. Gary constructed his family?s home, became more interested in building and flying airplanes and enjoyed family vacations skiing, river rafting, creek walking and surfing.

Upon retiring from Garratt-Callahan and after the end of his marriage, Gary moved to San Martin, CA to live one mile from the San Martin (South County) Airport. He built a workshop larger than his house to build airplanes and do any manner of construction, welding and go-cart repair. He volunteered at the Wings of History Air Museum helping restore vintage planes. He especially enjoyed introducing children to aviation by taking them for a ride in his plane. His crowning achievement was a Lancair IV P that he built from start to finish.

Gary was an active entrepreneur throughout his life focusing on hydro-electric and methane power plants. He started and ran three of these environmentally friendly projects.

Gary was known as a daredevil who enjoyed helicopter skiing, skydiving, motorcycle riding across the U.S., Europe, and Baja, Mexico. He had a laid back, but adventurous spirit. Gary made people feel comfortable around him and always had a big smile for everybody. He participated in many activities, but his favorite was telling stories with friends and family.

He is survived by his children: Tyler (wife Monika) Garratt, and Jenny (husband Brian) Hayden; grandchildren: Cole Garratt, Carter and Caitlin Hayden; his mother, Phyllis; brothers: Peter and Robert, and special friend Mary Ellen Carlin.

From Eric Sjoberg
March 9, 2012

I was a neighbor to gary in San martin. I would often stop by his great shop to chat with him while he was building one of his airplanes. he was a guy who could do almost anything! he will be missed Eric

From Johnny Bowles
Nov. 29, 2011

We'll always remember our rides Thanks for being a great friend and keep that throttle open The Bowles brothers

From Pat McGlennon
Nov. 29, 2011

I met Gary in 1990 through his son, Tyler, while coaching the Alpine Senior baseball team. Tyler was an excellent baseball player and outstanding competitor. Gary was very supportive of Tyler and the team concept. He had a way of supporting Tyler on the bad days (few that they were) and sharing in the good days which bonds a father and his son. After the season, Gary invited me to go helicopter skiing with him and Jenny in Canada. I was an intermediate skier at best. It was one of the most thrilling trips of my life. Gary babysat me on the slopes to make sure I had a great time. It was a lifetime experience for me. Over the years I have lost track of Gary and I am saddened to hear that this fine man is no longer with us. My thoughts and prayers go out to Tyler and Jenny and all the family.

From David F. Nichols
Nov. 28, 2011

First, I pass on my condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Gary's extended family. I was shocked to hear of his passing at such an early age. We were close classmates at Holderness School because our families were from so far away (mine were in Indonesia at the time). He was quite a natural athlete. I remember playing hockey after hours and on weekends with him and Earle Holsapple, another of his close classmates. I was new to hockey so played on junior varsity teams while he was on varsity. The same was true with lacrosse. After college, Uncle Sam brought me to San Diego, California to fly F-4 Phamtoms from Aircraft Carriers. Flying was in my blood and still is as it was in Gary?s. Unless you?ve been there it?s hard to describe the passion he had for airplanes and the special bond that we shared. I know. During one of the 5-year school reunions, he told me about flying into Baja, landing on a beach, surfing and flying back home. I never could get him to pick me up and tag along. He loved sports, airplanes, and had a very adventurous spirit which showed. He was a kind and gentle man and he will be missed by family, friends, co-workers, and classmates. Maybe I'll meet him again at the big airport in the sky someday and we?ll do some turns in the sky for old time sake. I?ll miss you Gary, God speed.

From Anne Forrest
Nov. 27, 2011

Gary came into the life of my late husband Jim and me on wings bringing my daughter, Rhonda and granddaughter Gillian for a special birthday celebration for me. He and JimÕs shared a love affair with the air, even though never close friends, was a bond between the two of them. The kindness, generosity and love shown to my family by this truly exceptional man will never be forgotten nor will he. Whether at the top of a snow covered mountain or high above one there is no tribute for me more appropriate for Gary than the most famous of all aviatorÕs poems. So to Gary Garratt and all who loved him may he soar forever in the memory of all. "High Flight" for Gary Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.