Universally, his West Point classmates begin their reminiscences of Richard Roger “Rich” Garay with remarks about what a large man he was, followed closely with how large his heart was, a true gentle giant. Rich was spontaneously generous, quietly self-assured, prone to smiling, and quick to lend a hand to others, as well as a good student. The fact that Rich chose dentistry for a profession after the military amazes these same classmates—that a man with his outsize hands could work delicately in such congested places.
Rich was born in St. Albans, a community of Queens, NY, on January 15, 1947 to William and Louise, the youngest amongst his siblings: Bill, Louise, and John (USMA ’67). They lived in East Rockaway, NY until they moved to Houston, TX in Rich’s early teens. He graduated from Memorial High School in 1965, having lettered as a two-way football player (tight end and defensive end).
His classmates share other recollections from his original Cadet Company B, 1st Regiment, and D-1, where he finished his final two years. During Summer Training at Camp Buckner, Rich was selected the guidon bearer for 1st Company, of which he was very proud, practicing the signaling of commands using the flag on the end of the pointed staff. Being primarily self-taught, Rich was initially confounded the first time he had to lead 1st Company through a doorway, where the eight-foot guidon wouldn’t fit at the prescribed “port arms” position. He modified his technique and led on, exercising the same persistence necessary to learn how to operate dental tools with fine precision. Another instance of Rich’s determination came from one of his plebe roommates who found Rich lying underneath the heavy bunk bed, using its weight for bench presses. One final persistent image is of Rich as an upperclassman patrolling old East Barracks in his “B-robe” and slippers, over T-shirt, suspenders, and gray trousers, being his usual friendly, positive self.
Rich’s first active duty assignment as an Army Engineer was with the 547th Engineer Battalion, Darmstadt, West Germany in early 1970. A few months earlier, Rich had married Elizabeth “Betty” Smallwood, whom he’d met while attending West Point. Ron Hudnell, his Engineer classmate, and other colleagues of the 547th recall that Rich was assigned to the headquarters of this “Heavy” unit, which regularly stopped all commercial shipping by erecting temporary pontoon bridging across the broad Rhine River (speed and precision were a necessity!). They maintained heavily used roads and trails in maneuver areas, exercised with other NATO Engineering units, and performed other construction duties along the East German border, despite the winter’s deep snows. In 1971 Rich transferred within the 130th Engineer Brigade to the 559th Engineer Battalion. During this time his first son, Christopher, was born at the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt. In 1973, Rich was reassigned to South Korea with the 802nd Engineer Battalion, whose units were spread among the Army camps across the central part of that country. Rich was assigned to Fort Hood, TX until he completed his service obligation, shortly after his second son, Jeffrey, was born in 1975.
Rich returned to Houston and entered the University of Texas School of Dentistry, where he was later joined by another ’69 classmate from Texas, Charlie Whatton, who served as assistant for Rich’s Texas DDS certification examination. His dental group nicknamed Rich “the King” for organizing social gatherings, which continued for years after his graduation. Rich’s dental career progressed through a joint practice in Alief, TX, to one of his own, and his family also increased with the birth of his third son, Stephen, in 1982, from his second marriage to Diana Lim. In 1991, they relocated to the Pacific Northwest, eventually to Vancouver, WA, where Rich continued to practice as a dentist and later specialized as a dental anesthesiologist. The family mourned the passing of Diana to cancer in 2001. Rich enjoyed sports and workout activities, and, with his third wife, Elizabeth White, he perfected their tandem bicycling technique.
His family remembers Rich as an especially kind and generous person who possessed an extensive archive of stories, some of which his family referred to as “Dad’s greatest hits,” which he was glad to share with all who would listen (though they might have heard them before). An especially meaningful experience he related to them was how he learned from his father what it meant to “love with a mild touch and how to love fiercely at once.” Rich spoke to his classmates about his love of family and the duty he felt towards his country and his patients. As he recorded for the Class of 1969 Legacy Book: “West Point taught me the importance of being honest and honorable in all situations. It could be easy to slack off, not do the best I can. Most people would never know the difference. But I would know! I am not perfect, but I try to do my best and be honorable with each patient, with each activity, and in all aspects of life.”
Richard leaves numerous friends and relatives behind as he passes on, among whom number the following—his sons: Christopher, Jeffrey, and Stephen; his siblings and their spouses, respectively: William and Mary, Louise and Andre, and John (USMA 1967) and Barbara; his former wives: Elizabeth Smallwood and Elizabeth White, and her children, Anthony and Michael, and grandchildren, Ali and Aidan; numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews; as well as his mother- and father-in-law, Wayne and May. His West Point family from the Class of ’69 will also fondly remember our guidon bearer, Rich, as he’s again gone ahead of us, and we can’t help but miss him, as he’s left a large opening in our ranks.
— Rich’s family and classmates