A GoFundMe account has been established to help the family of Mike Garrity host a memorial event. To donate to the event, go to www.gofundme.com/8g6epa8gd9s. Those interested in providing meals for Linda Garrity can contact Flowers-Dawson at Bonnyflowers2008@yahoo.com.
Seth Gordon
Newberg Graphic
The longtime CPRD sports coordinator dies unexpectedly at age 62
The Chehalem Park and Recreation District was shaken after receiving news that longtime sports coordinator Mike Garrity died at his home sometime Friday morning.
Garrity was 62.
First hired as a gym supervisor in 2001, Garrity rose to the position of sports coordinator and has been synonymous with youth sports in the Newberg area ever since.
Although quiet and reserved, Garrity was an enthusiastic supporter of youth athletics.
Mike Garrity
Sports and recreation supervisor Mark Martin said he will miss hearing Garrity’s stories about what happened on Newberg area playing fields over the weekend.
“He always enjoyed watching them participate and compete,” Martin said. “He wouldn’t tell me stories about coaches and refs. He would always tell me stories about kids, how one did this or another kicked the ball in his own goal on accident. He just liked the innocence of those kids.”
In addition to knowing just about everybody connected with sports in the community, Martin said Garrity was the go-to person in the office for computer issues.
“About the time he came on, the agency kind of went into the computer world, on the Web, and we went to electronic registration,” he said. “We really didn’t have an IT person and Mike really took the leadership on that. That’s something we’re very thankful for. He was just invaluable from that standpoint.”
Garrity was a state champion in the pole vault in high school and all-state football player growing up in Montana. He went on to play tight end for Western Montana in college.
Martin said that although Garrity had been dealing with health issues ever since being injured in a motorcycle accident six years ago, he seemed to be doing well, which is why the news of his passing came as such a shock.
“It’s a tough one,” Martin said. “We’re in a little bit of numbness over here.”
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Sports Coordinator Mike Garrity. Details will be released as they become available. Please be patient with us as we work together to continue our sports programming as scheduled. Our sympathies are with the Garrity family.
Update: There will be a memorial service scheduled soon. Meanwhile, if you would like to mail condolences, please address to Linda Garrity, c/o Chehalem Park and Recreation District, 125 S. Elliott Road, Newberg, OR 97132.
