Birth: Sep. 13, 1943
Death: Dec. 19, 2013
Kingston Ontario, Canada

KINGSTON - Flags at Catholic schools in the Kingston area have been flying at half-mast since the death on Thursday of a long-serving trustee.

Wilf Garrah, 70, passed away at Kingston General Hospital with his family by his side after a short battle with brain cancer.

He was a trustee in the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board for 29 years, serving as chair of the board for three terms.

He was also one of the longest-serving employees in Correctional Service Canada, retiring last March after a 48-year career.

Sworn in as a guard in 1964, Garrah worked in the accounting departments of various prisons in the area.

When he retired, he was the manager of finance and an audit adviser at Frontenac and Collins Bay institutions.

Garrah attended school board meetings until early this month while battling his illness.

On Nov. 5, he attended by phone the Accommodation and Review Committee process meeting at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School, where he voted to save St. Paul and St. Thomas More schools, two of the schools on the chopping block. Instead of closing them, it was decided that St. Paul would continue as is while St. Thomas More would welcome students from St. Joseph/St. Mary Catholic School, which will be closed.

If he hadn't attended the meeting, the vote would have been lost and those schools would have closed.

According to his son Jeff, he left his hospital bed to vote against closing all of the schools that were slated to shut down.

"I think that was his proudest moment. He basically left his hospital room and told the doctors: �I'm either going to be taking this call from the hospital room or from home.' "

"Because he knew there was a reasonable chance he would have been the tying vote and the motion would have lost," said Jeff, the chief executive officer of the Kingston Economic Development Corporation.

Jody DiRocco, director of education for the board, was also at the meeting.

"Wilf was a strong advocate for and a great supporter of Catholic education and he brought that commitment to the board table throughout his tenure right to the very last meeting just a few weeks ago when he attended our inaugural meeting at the beginning of December," said DiRocco.

"I respected him as a trustee and enjoyed my relationship with him."

Jeff Garrah said his father also had a great deal to do with setting up the French Catholic high school in Kingston, Marie-Rivier.

"His order of priority was pretty clear with us: it was family and then work. And family meant Corrections and the school board, those were his three families."

Of his first family, Jeff Garrah said his father enjoyed spending time fishing with his grandchildren, Jordyn and Noah, and watching them participate in sports.

Garrah is survived by his wife of 41 years, Mary Judith Garrah, and children Jeff, Ryan and Whitney and grandchildren Jordyn and Noah.

His funeral was held on Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Palace Road.

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GARRAH, Wilfred A. - September 13th, 1943 - December 19th, 2013 Beloved husband, father and grandfather died peacefully, in the company of his family on Thursday, December 19th, 2013, at the Kingston General Hospital in his 71st year, after a short and courageous battle with brain cancer.

Wilfred is survived by his wife of 41 years, Mary Judith Garrah (n�e Feeney), and his three children, Jeffery Garrah (Tanya), Ryan Garrah (Kendra) and Whitney Simon (Taylor). He was the loved Poppy and fishing partner of Jordyn and Noah. Survived by his brothers Joe and Mike, and his sister Mary. We will be forever grateful to Ann Turcotte, who joined the family as a caregiver when Wilf's mother passed at the young age of twenty seven.

Predeceased by his father, the late Israel Garrah of Howe Island and mother, the late Mary Garrah (n�e Murphy) of Wolfe Island. Wilf enjoyed a 48 year career with Correctional Services of Canada.

He was an elected Trustee for the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board for 29 years, serving as Chair of the Board for three terms. Wilf was an active member of the community through his involvement in local politics, charitable fundraising and the parish community of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He was proud of his children and grandchildren. Wilf has touched many lives.

Very special thanks are extended to the KGH staff, especially Drs. Cook, Saunders, Viola, Kalyvis, Dagnone and Priesnitz; and to the incredible nursing staff in the critical care unit, Dave, Mike, Patti, Bev, Jen and Monique as well as those on Kidd 7, 9 and Connell 10. We will be forever grateful for their care and kindness.

Visitation at the GORDON F. TOMPKINS FUNERAL HOME - Township Chapel (Taylor-Kidd Blvd. at Centennial Dr.) on Friday, December 20th from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 392 Palace Rd., on Saturday, December 21st at 10:30 a.m., Monsignor J. Lynch presiding. Rite of Committal prayers in St. Mary's Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, donations in Wilf's memory can be made by cheque to the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic Education Foundation, or the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation - Intensive Care Unit. SharingMemories online condolences at www.gftompkinstownship.ca "Rest in peace, Dad."