William Patrick “Bill” Garvin, 70, of Penfield, passed away on Monday, August 11th, 2025. He retired from the New York State Public Employees Federation as a Field Representative after 16 years, and later from New York State United Teachers as a Labor Relations Specialist after 22 years. In retirement, he served one term as President of the Organization of NYSUT Staff Retirees. Bill is survived by his son and namesake, Will, and his former wife, Kathy. He will be missed by his sister Audrey and her husband, Melvin, and their sons Jon, Brad, and Matt, along with their children; his brother-in-law Claus, who remained close after the passing of his sister Elaine, and her son, Ed; and Dorrie, partner of his late sister Lorry.
Holidays and vacations were special times with Will, his sisters, and nephews, including yearly fall camping trips to the Catskills before it got too cold to sleep in tents. When the snow began to fall, he enjoyed annual ski trips to Stowe, Vermont, and a life-changing adventure to Zermatt, Switzerland, to ski the Klein Matterhorn.
He cherished his time with Kathy’s family, spending every Thanksgiving and Christmas preparing grand holiday feasts for Will, Kathy, and his sister-in-law Judith, nieces Erin and Jenna, and nephew Alex. He also traveled with Will and Kathy to visit her family in North Carolina for summer vacations, where he enjoyed the company of his sister-in-law Becky and nephews Ben and Sam; his brother-in-law Matthew and nephews Corey and Duncan; his brother-in-law Mark; and late brother-in-law Timmy.
Bill was born on October 6th, 1954, in the Bronx, New York City to parents Bill and Audrey. He graduated from Cardinal Spellman High School then SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Therapy. His first job after graduation was at New Hope Rehabilitation Center in Loch Sheldrake, New York, where he worked to improve the lives of residents with developmental disabilities. He made fast friends with his coworkers, and their bond grew into lifelong friendships, forged during nights out at Gwen’s Bar after work. After moving to Rochester to work at the Rochester Psychiatric Center, Bill joined the union where he became a union steward, a role in which he quickly found to be his calling in life.
A dedicated labor organizer and professional union trainer, Bill walked in solidarity on picket lines and supported fellow union members wherever he could. He traveled to assist unions in New Mexico, Ohio, Wisconsin and beyond to organize membership drives and canvassing in support of pro-labor candidates in local, state, and national elections. Bill spent weeks in Georgia at the Russian border working closely with union leaders and organizers. Electricity to the country was cut off nightly, but the camaraderie of the locals and their inventive home stills helped them persevere. In the office, he was beloved by his coworkers for his warmth and humor, and he was deeply respected by the union members he represented for his tireless advocacy and unwavering support.
Generously donating his time and resources to support many causes dear to him, he volunteered with Foodlink, delivering holiday meals to families and assisting with fundraising drives to support their work year-round. Through United Way, he sponsored a family’s Christmas gifts each year, and for decades he ensured a portion of each paycheck went to support their ongoing work. He also sponsored an annual art award in memory of his sister Elaine, a watercolorist and board and signature member of the North East Watercolor Society.
His interests in the arts and entertainment were eclectic. He collected original artwork, had a deep appreciation for music across all genres, and often traveled to galleries, concerts, and festivals. He was widely known as a Dead Head, attending dozens of Grateful Dead concerts through the years. Bill enjoyed camping as often as possible, attending a yearly getaway with friends in Liberty, New York, filled with tubing, bonfires, and laughs. Bill’s love of sports spanned hockey, football, and motorsports. He held season tickets to the Rochester Americans for over a decade, with Will joining him at every game, sharing in his love of the sport. He was a devoted fan of the New York Rangers, still reveling in their 1994 Stanley Cup win, and a sometimes reluctant fan of the New York Giants. Bill also enjoyed NASCAR, attending races at Watkins Glen with Will for many years. After Will moved to North Carolina, they began attending the annual race at Charlotte Motor Speedway together.
Bill will always be remembered by those who cherished him for his thoughtfulness and kindness. He had a remarkable way of going the extra mile for others, whether through small acts of care or grand gestures. Family and friends often spoke of his surprise visits, traveling long distances to appear at the front door, attend an event, or celebrate an awards ceremony in your honor. He was gregarious and outgoing, taking the time to get to know anyone he came in contact with. His generosity of time and spirit left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him and he will be fondly remembered as a man who genuinely cared for others.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be arranged in the coming weeks, and family and friends may email Will at bill.col.update@icloud.com to receive an update once a date is set. His final resting place is Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York, where he will be laid to rest alongside his family. In lieu of flowers, family requests that donations be made in Bill’s memory to Foodlink to support their work providing meals to people in need.
Online:
By Mail:
Foodlink
PO Box 60766
Rochester, NY 14606
3 responses to “Garvin, William P.”
Keep On Truckin my friend!
Keep on trucking my friend!
I’m sorry for the loss of Bill. I met him a few years ago, I am the Artist that made the glass Japanese lanterns he had in his living room. He took great pride in his collections, he was my trivia partner, and always made me laugh when I saw him.