Thomas Francis Garvey, 88, Vero Beach
Thomas Francis Garvey passed away in Vero Beach, on Aug. 12, 2020, after celebrating his 88th birthday and 65th wedding anniversary. Tom was born in Lowell, Mass., on June 21, 1932, the only child of Clarence J. and Dr. Veda Offenhauer Garvey.
He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. In between studying to earn high honors, he met the love of his life, Nancy Geary. They graduated and got married in the same week.
Tom worked for the DuPont Company in their Textile Fibers Division for 35 years, starting in Wilmington, Del. With each promotion, the family packed up and moved to the new opportunity – first to Charlotte, N.C.; back to Wilmington, and then onto Mountain Lakes and Hoboken, N.J., while he commuted to his office in Manhattan.
After retiring from DuPont, he formed his own company specializing in custom textile fibers and yarns. He also renovated and flipped beach homes while living in Spring Lake and Sea Girt, N.J.
After years of snowbirding, Tom and Nancy permanently settled in Vero Beach in 1998.
Tom especially enjoyed watching the ocean from their Southwinds balcony in the Moorings. In 2015 they made their final move to Indian River Estates.
Wherever he was, family, friends and organizations reaped the benefits of his hard work and outstanding leadership. He was a driving force in neighborhood swim clubs, gourmet clubs, and epic block parties. Tom was a strong leader on the Southwinds Board for many years. His efforts were especially critical during hurricane seasons when he oversaw repairs and took on insurance companies.
Future generations will have the benefit of his long hours and trips researching and cataloging the genealogy of his own and extended family. This is a legacy of which he was especially proud. He enjoyed sharing his passion with others, especially the Indian River Genealogical Society where he served as Treasurer and President. Among the projects he worked on were Find a Grave and Veterans Memorial Sanctuary Registry.
He was instrumental in developing and marketing the Indian River County Postcard History book published by the Society.
Tom is survived by his wife, Nancy; his three daughters, Ellen (Peter) Minderman, Caryn (Jeffrey) Carlson and Janet (Rusty) Ballard; five grandchildren; a great-grand-daughter; and eight nieces and nephews.
His son Thomas Francis Garvey Jr. (Tuck) predeceased him.
Due to the current Covid19 pandemic, funeral and memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to VNA Hospice, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach FL 32960 (vnatc.org).
He will be interred at St Patrick’s cemetery in Lowell MA: the fourth Thomas Francis Garvey in the plot.
Joseph Anthony Caruso, Sr., 74, Vero Beach
Joseph Anthony Caruso, Sr., 74, of Vero Beach, passed away at home with his family by his side after a swift battle with metastatic cancer on Aug. 17, 2020. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., Joe, known by many as “Big C” or “Mr. C” worked from a very young age to build a company that employed many special friends who became family over several decades.
He was known to be honest, a bit stubborn, and expected the best out of everyone he loved. He set the bar high, not only professionally, but personally, having recently celebrated his 51st anniversary with his wife, Carol, whom he had known since elementary school at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope.
If he was not busy doing laps in the pool, or waxing his cars, Big C was rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles or Flyers. His greatest joys were moments talking politics, sports, or business with anyone who would listen.
Joe had many golf buddies, work associates, and friends, but most important to him was his family.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Ann (Parker); his two sons Joseph Caruso, Jr. and Richard Caruso (Jennifer); and his four grandchildren, Parker, Thomas, Shea, and Lily, for whom he would do anything to support and share a laugh with. He is also survived by his sister Anne Marie Agresti and brother Harry T. Caruso.
