Mark Rutledge Mcgarry

Mark Rutledge McGarry,Jr, 85, died peacefully on the morning of Feb. 16, 2015 in St. Petersburg surrounded by his loving family. Known by many as "The Judge" he served as a Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court Judge for 24 years. The ultimate sportsman who was a scratch golfer, a badminton champion, rode motorcycles, marksman, canoed and kayaked, skied, biked, ice skated, flew his own plane, and spent many hours sailing his Hobie cat on Tampa Bay. In his spare time he played the guitar and piano. For the past 23 years he spent most of his time at his home in Durango, Colorado which he designed himself. He taught badminton there at Ft. Lewis College. His parents, the late Helen G. and Mark R. McGarry Sr., came here from Scarsdale, N.Y. with their two-year-old son seeking better weather for his asthma, and stayed for the rest of their lives. Young Mark attended North Ward Elementary School and Mirror Lake Junior High School for two years, finishing his high school years at The Lawrenceville Preparatory School in Lawrenceville, N.J. He graduated from the University of Virginia where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He received his law degree from the University of Florida in 1955, returning to St. Petersburg to practice law, and was elected circuit judge in 1966. His years on the bench were filled with good humor and camaraderie among his cohorts, resulting in his publishing a book of cartoons poking gentle humor at attorneys and judges. In St. Petersburg, he belonged to the Young Republicans Club, the Dragon Club, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, the YMCA and attended the First Baptist Church. In addition to his wife of 62 years, Norma Jean (Goodman), Mark is survived by sons Mark III (Susie), and Brian (Aurea), grandchildren Patrick, Alyssa and Angelica, nieces Cathy McGarry and Lynn Jewett, Christopher McGarry and and Alison Gormley. He was predeceased by his two brothers Dr. Peter McGarry and Bill McGarry. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, 600 First Avenue North, Suite 201, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. Online donations may be made at www.memorial-donations.org.