Ken Garber

December 29, 1944 - December 21, 2019

Ken Garber, son of Dorothy and George Garber, husband of Chris, father of Lisa Stoof and Kenny Garber, brother to Cathy Skola passed unexpectedly on December 21, 2019. Born in Chicago, Illinois on December 29, 1944 and raised in Dayton, Ohio. He attended the University of Cincinnati and Parsons College in Iowa where he graduated with a Bachelors of Business Administration Degree in 1969. Ken was an Army National Guard veteran. Ken worked at GM/Delphi as a Senior Administrator and Business Analyst before retiring to Florida in 2002. Unable to stay idle, Ken immersed himself in community work. He served on the Advisory Committee to Manatee County, the Board of Directors at Ocean Point in the Florida Keys, Mote Ranch Homeowners Association Board of Directors, DSRA Pension Board (Delphi Salaried Retired Association) and DSRA Benefit Trust Board. Ken was a founding member of the 1114 Health Care Committee which created the VEBA that researched insurance options and answered questions for all members on health insurance. He was the Point of Contact for DSRA in the State of Florida since inception. Ken served on the DSRA Election Committee, and DSRA Committee responsible for writing bylaws. Ken touched lives throughout the country, state and local levels lending expertise on pensions and health care as well as solving local/community dilemmas. Ken always enjoyed a good negotiation. Ken loved his grandchildren, Hannah, Olivia, Emma and Josh Stoof and all their friends who enjoyed staying and partying at the house. In Ken’s spare time, he enjoyed fishing, boating, relaxing in the Florida Keys, eating at good restaurants, cruising the Caribbean and smoking a good cigar. Ken never backed away from challenges in play, work or life. He loved the challenges of helping people both locally and nationally. The year 2019 Ken fought through extreme insults to his body and never considered giving up. His fight to survive was a testament to his strength, courage and will to live. Our hearts are broken and we miss you terribly but your painful fight for life has now transitioned to peace. We love you Ken, Dad, Papa, Brother, Brother-in-law, Cousin, Nephew, and Friend. Funeral service will be Friday, January 3, 11:00am at Toale Brothers Colonial Chapel, 40 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236