Tammi Milikin (1975)

Gary lived across the street from Mike Caviness. He was always at Mike's house playing music and cuttin the buck. My sister was friends with his sister Janelle.  Gary was a prankster and reminds me of some of the actors in a John belushi movie!  We miss you gary...........

Melanie Vandergriff (Card) (1975)

That kid could always crack me up!  Along with the same school, Gary & I also attended the same church.  If he sat anywhere near me during CCD class (the Catholic version of Sunday school) I knew I was probably gonna get in trouble for laughin' & cuttin' up.  You're right,Tammi, he was the John Belushi of the Class of '75!  RIP, Gary!

Julie Hadaway (Soud) (1975)

Gary always made me laugh...he came into speech class late every morning and sat behind me...he would make the funniest comments and keep me in stitches the whole class.  When ever there was a school dance, he and I would do the bump to "Jungle Boogie".  We miss you, Gary!

Donna Nasoff (1975)

Gary was one of the first guys at Parker to talk to me when I moved there.  We had a few classes together, and he always cracked me up!!! It was such a shock when he died. I'm sure he's still missed by all!

Gerard Pyatte (1975)

I REMEMBER ONE OF MANY GREAT MEMORIES  I RAN N TO GARY AT ONE OF THE LOCAL WATERING HOLES  [GO FIGURE] I'D BEEN OUT TO SEA FOR A COUPLE MO. AND HE SAID HE HAD SOME CRAZY DREAM WITH ME N IT HE ALAWYS COULD MAKE U FEEL LIKE U WERE HIS BEST FRIEND HE WAS JUST STARTING TO GET N TO WHAT HE LOVED SOME RADIO VENTURE I BELIEVE. I'M SURE THIS PAGE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO GARY MADE FEEL THAT WAY   GERARD

Tina Smith (Key) (1975)

This entry by Tina's husband, Mike Key:  Gary and I were best friends in Jr. High....part of the University Park gang.  I don't recall the teacher but in the first few weeks of 9th grade, our English teacher went nuts, maybe Gary and I had something to do with it, and she was committed to a mental hospital.  Our class was split up and Gary and I were moved to a new English class.  On our first day, Gary and I were sitting in the back in the new class, talking as usual and I told him that before a couple of weeks passed, I would be going out with one of two good looking girls near the front of our row (we were such studs ... right???).  Well, one was Tina Smith and the other was Libby McLean.  I got Tina, (been married now for 33 years!) and I know Gary went out (or whatever it is you do in 9th grade) with Libby for a bit ... at least before she got tied down with Ronnie Knight. 

I moved across town to a remote location called Mandarin (who knew it would develop like it did huh?) in February but continued out 9th grade at Ft. Caroline.  Gary’s home became my surrogate home and his family welcomed me, even giving me a key.  We spent many a good time with the gang from University Park roaming Arlington while our parents thought we were camping out in the woods behind Gary’s street.  Fortunately we never got caught.  Gary, Mike Kelly, Andy Rooks, Jim Koppenberger and several others have memories and stories that have endured our lifetime as a result of those days.  Good thing we didn’t have our licenses yet or we would have been in jail.  Remember the construction equipment guys….?

Gary finally got his life turned around although I never got to see him again.  Andy, you said it well….he is greatly missed.

Julie Green (Smith) (1975)

Gary was a bright shining star to me.  He always made me laugh and I will never forget him.  He was one of a kind and I treasure the great times we had together.

Jon Cerasaro (1975)

After high school Gary and I worked together for a while at Misfits Screen Printing and I will never forget the week that the boss was away and Gary wrote a story about what the boss did during work hours: come in, read paper, go to bathroom (Gary used a different wording), read paper, eat lunch - you get the idea - it was quite funny.  Unfortunately, the boss found it and I think Gary lost his job shortly there after.  Like Kevin, Gary and I go back to elementary school and we went through a lot of growing up together, especially after high school.  Gary's death was a great loss.