April 17, 1944 – November 13, 2020
Steve Garrison was a member of the Alabama Sierra Club and the Coosa Valley Sierra Club for many years, and served on the Excom of the Alabama Chapter for several years. His long struggle with cancer ended last month. Editor’s Note: “I had many conversations with Steve through the years, many relating to the environmental disasters of various administrations, both local and national. Steve always believed that we could do better, if only people would use a little common sense. My most frequent conversations with him almost always centered on birds. He knew that I love birds and had a respect for my opinions about them. Every couple of years, after, I suspect, becoming completely frustrated by one of the many Great Blue Herons that found the koi pond at his home along the river in Gadsden, he would call to ask my thoughts on how to dissuade the birds from gobbling up his prize fish. There would always be his desire to make them go away at any cost, but he always called me to talk about ideas and, as always, to be dissuaded from making a rash choice to do something he’d later regret. I enjoyed all our conversations, from talking about Alabama Power to the removal of a dam, but those conversations about birds are my fondest memory and I appreciate that he took the energy to call someone who he knew would defend those birds!”
Mr. Stephen G. Garrison, age 76, of Gadsden, Alabama passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2020 after a long illness. Steve was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, son of the late Howard and Helen Garrison. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Cindy (née Thelen), son Scott Garrison, daughter Laura Garrison-Brook (Dan Brook) and his grandsons Alex Boulet (Kate) and Cooper Garrison-Brook, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and sisters and brothers in law. Steve grew up in Johnson City, a small town in upstate NY. After high school and time in the NY National Guard, he attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY and graduated with a degree in economics in May 1967. He then started his career in the computer technology field, primarily working for Burroughs Corporation and Wang Labs before moving to Alabama in 1989. He attended Jacksonville State University receiving a Masters Degree in Psychology in 1992.
While living in Alexandria, AL he started his own computer sales and repair business until his retirement in 2005. After retiring from the computer business and settling in Gadsden with his wife Cindy, he continued to remain active with tech related projects. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and was proud to be a strong bicycle rider until shortly before his illness. He was one of the founders of the Etowah Roadies bicycle Facebook group which has increased bicycle riding in the area. His volunteer service including being a Big Brother, hosting three exchange students from around the world, serving on the executive board of the Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club, acting as a role model in AA, and as a member of the Coosa Riverkeeper organization.
He loved his friends and his family, immediate and extended, including his many northern in-laws and southern cousins since his mother Helen Garrison (née Cannon) was from Anniston AL originally before relocating to NY. He was especially proud of his father Howard who retired as a Major General after serving in the army for 40+ years, including active service in WWII.