Charles Garrity Obituary

December 29, 1929 - July 21, 2022 Charles (Chuck) Raymond Garrity, former Sportswriter and Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, died peacefully after a long illness at age 92. Born in Denver, Colorado, he was the sixth and youngest child of immigrants from County Mayo, Ireland, Martin J. & Winifred B. Garrity. Predeceased by five siblings, Mary Eileen Pettyes, Winifred Brown, Martin (Bud) Garrity, William Garrity and Lawrence Garrity; married and divorced twice, he is survived and loved by his children from his first marriage, Charles W. (Joyce) Garrity and Melissa G. (Robert) Alvarado, his children from his second marriage, Anton S. (Dustin) Garrity, Rebecca L. (David) Jex, and Aaron R. (Tiffany) Garrity, fifteen grandchildren (Andrea, Connor, Adrienne, Garrett, Trevor, Calista, Amanda, Gabrielle, Madysen, Reagan, Logan, Charly, Alayna, Michael, Liberty), eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. His extended family will remember him as fun-loving, captivating storyteller, and chronicler of family high jinks. His family home movies were notorious for not focusing on family, but on "sites" he found more interesting.

Chuck graduated from North Denver High School in 1948 where he excelled at running the 440-yard sprint. His speed earned him a track scholarship to the University of Denver, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Journalism. Chuck's love of all things sports-related led him to pursue a career in sports writing and editing. Starting at The Denver Post in 1953 as a copy boy, he worked his way to Sports Editor (1960-66), a rise that coincided with the escalation of pro sports in Denver and the arrival of the Broncos. In 1966, he moved to Los Angeles, joining the Los Angeles Times as a sportswriter and Assistant Sports Editor (covering the new-to-LA Kings Hockey beat from the first game). His years at the Times cemented his love of sports and the journalists who covered them. He worked with Times' legends Murray, Florence, Zimmerman, Chapin, Hall, Oates, Newhan, Rapaport, Ostler, and Prugh to name a few. He was the wit behind headlines that captured the entire essence of an event ("DAVIS! DAVIS! DAVIS! DAVIS! DAVIS! DAVIS!" headline for USC's 1972 victory over Notre Dame) and the editor behind stories that made you cheer, rail, and sob. "Garrity," as his coworkers called him, was quick-witted, acerbic, dedicated, profane, impatient, demanding, and personable. He left the Times in 1981 to become managing editor of NFL PRO! Magazine where he stayed until his retirement in 2000. He loved his work and his colleagues, and regaled his family and friends with sports-related and newsroom stories (often ribald and in later years embellished) sure to captivate all in earshot. He met and interviewed numerous athletic greats, many of whom became friends. He made some bad calls over the years: panned an early concert by Elvis; turned down an opportunity to invest in a new ski resort (Vail); tried to excel at golf. He loved to travel, dine at great restaurants, listen to Charlie Pride, Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings, and sneak off to find gelato and sweets whenever an opportunity arose. But by far his favorite pastime was sharing memories and stories with friends and family for hours on end. Chuck will be missed by all who knew him, and we all are better for having had him in our lives. A celebration of Chuck's life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.