1LT Lt. James A. Garvey
A Ridgefield resident throughout his childhood, high school and college years, James A. Garvey was killed Nov. 23 when struck by a car in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 24. He is the son of William Garvey and Tamara Eberlein of Florida Hill Road.
At the time of his death, James was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He had recently returned from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan where he served as an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot in combat, as a maintenance test pilot, and headed a helicopter maintenance platoon. He was based at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and lived in Nashville.
James was a 2012 honors graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, which he attended on an Army ROTC scholarship. His high marks as a ROTC cadet won him a coveted position as a pilot candidate; he earned his wings at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, in 2013.
A proud graduate of the Ridgefield public school system, James formed lifelong friendships with fellow students, especially the “Rat Pack” of wonderful kids on nearby Ridgewood Road.
Intensely interested in world affairs, history, politics, the Boston Red Sox, and human relationships, James was always ready to share an analysis, commentary, prediction, story or joke. He was a joyful person, eager to see what was next.
In addition to his parents, James is survived by his brothers, Michael and John, and his twin sister, Samantha; his maternal grandparents, Jean and Robert Nicholls; along with numerous aunts and uncles from both the Garvey and Eberlein families, and many cousins.
Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, is handling arrangements; a funeral will be held at Jesse Lee Methodist Church on Main Street. Dates and times of services will be available through the funeral home and church. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the 1LT James Garvey Foundation, which it is establishing to help fund the University of Connecticut U.S. Army ROTC program.