A. Cary Garman

October 20, 1944 – August 14, 2022

Cary Garman, named after the actor Cary Grant, was raised on Elm Avenue in Takoma Park, Maryland, son of Eva Ester Gray and Allen L. Garman.    He and brother Steve shared an idyllic childhood, with many active interests including motorcycles, cars, spelunking, skiing, and golf. Cary had an early interest in all things mechanical and loved to fix machines, build, and create. His most beloved car was a 1966 Pontiac Tempest, and was a source of endless tinkering. From his father’s influence, golf was a major part of his early years, and he was a member of the High Point High School golf team. A chance introduction to sailing in Annapolis by a friend ignited a lifelong passion, that bordered on obsession when yacht racing, regardless of the weather. Cary built his first sailboat and he influenced both his father and brother to take up the pastime. He was active with the Rhode River Boat Club, Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association and Round Bay Sailing Association. His more notable distance and multiday races included the Great Ocean Race around the Delmarva Peninsula, Annapolis to Bermuda, and the Governor’s Cup - Annapolis to St. Mary’s City. He married Nancy Fisher of Woodland Avenue in Takoma Park and built their first house in Seabrook, MD in 1970. In 1984, the family relocated to the tranquil town of Centreville on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Cary has two children Marchele Hills (husband Greg) of Glenwood, MD and Allen W. (wife Kayoko) of Severna Park, MD, as well as five grandchildren Grace Hills, Hannah Hills, Liam Garman, Colin Garman, and Sean Garman. Cary’s full career was with the local phone company, C&P Telephone, Bell Atlantic, and ultimately, he retired from Verizon in his late 50s. While yacht racing on larger boats had been the major weekend activity for decades, he always dreamed of racing his small Force 5 dingy in national regattas. During his early retirement years, he trailered the boat to participate in several regattas in New York, North Carolina, and Florida. Other retirement activities included motorcycle- and camping-trips with friends. Raised to be self-reliant, he was certainly characterized as a DIYer and often volunteered to help family and friends with projects. Cary also enjoyed cutting wood for winter heating with his brother and friends.

Nautical quotes reminiscent of Cary.

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist

expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails."

-William A. Ward

A sailing ship is no democracy; you don't caucus a crew as to where you'll go anymore than you inquire when they'd like to shorten sail.

- Sterling Hayden

He was now convinced that the most valuable sail on board was the diesel."

-Ray Kauffman

I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.

- Oliver Wendel Holmes 

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