John T. Garnjost

Mr. Garnjost died peacefully at home in Sun City with family at his side.  He was born in New York, NY in September 1934 to Stanley L. Garnjost and Dorothy T. Garnjost.  He is predeceased by his parents and older brother Stanley.

Mr. Garnjost graduated from Poly Prep Country Day School, Brooklyn, NY (1952).  He earned a BA from Columbia College, New York, NY in 1956 and rowed Varsity Crew 1954-56.  He earned an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1961. 

Mr. Garnjost was a US Air Force pilot, 1956-1959, and served in Japan and Taiwan. His business career began at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co., NY, NY from 1961-66.  For 24 years he worked at Bristol-Myers Company until 1990 at NY corporate headquarters, as Managing Director, BM (Malaysia), and as President and General Manager, BM (Taiwan).

From 1970-1999 he was a FISA licensed international rowing official who officiated both in the U.S. and internationally.  He officiated at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Mr. Garnjost received the John Carlin Award, US Rowing in 2000.  Also in 2000 he received the Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee for outstanding merit in the cause of world sport and specifically in Taiwan.  He received the George Shiebler Award from the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2003, and in 2013 he received the Dick Alcock Award for 50 years of Service and Dedication to U.S. Rowing.

Since moving to Sun City Hilton Head in 2008, Mr. Garnjost was a volunteer at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, GA, and he served on the Administration & Finance Ministry Team at Christ Lutheran Church, Hilton Head. A devoted family man, Mr. Garnjost is survived by his wife Janet of 47 years, and by daughters Alison Garnjost of Savannah, GA and Valerie Garnjost (Matthew Lacy) of Bluffton, SC.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Pooler, GA,  or to US Rowing.

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