Garry R. Morrow, 82, formerly of Potsdam

POTSDAM -- Garry R. Morrow, age 82 was carried away by the angels to his heavenly home on December 27.

He was born on April 24, 1941, in Potsdam, NY to the late Kermet and Mary Louise (Fallon) Morrow.

Garry graduated from Clarkson College in 1963 where he lettered in hockey and lacrosse and earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was elected a member of the Phalanx Society, the highest honor bestowed on a Clarkson undergraduate.

Garry began his career in 1963 as a cryogenic engineer at the Linde Division of Union Carbide’s Speedway Laboratory in Indianapolis, Indiana where he developed ultralow temperature (approaching -454F) cooling systems for military electronics, cryogenic surgery, oxygen respiratory therapy, long-term preservation of biological materials and high field superconducting magnets for research in the physical sciences.

It was the last of these, high field superconductivity, that was to lead to the successful commercial development of the powerful magnets required for medical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Garry returned to New York in 1972 to join Intermagnetics General Corp.(IGC) (a spin-off of GE R&D Center) where he worked in a number of assignments as an engineering and technical marketing executive until his retirement in 2004 as Corporate Director of Marketing and Sales.

IGC (now Philips Medical Systems) was a pioneer in the development and commercialization of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, now widely deployed as a key element in the field of Medical Diagnostic Imaging. At the 2nd Annual New York State Superconductor Technology Summit in 2011, Garry was selected as a New York State Leader in Superconductivity for his important contribution to the field.

When asked what he did for a living Garry would often reply “I never worked a day in my life! They paid me to spend my days with some of the smartest people on the planet, applying a fascinating technology with seemingly endless potential, to solutions that helped people live longer and better lives. What more could one ask?”

For many years, Garry was an active communicant of Our Lady of Grace Church in Ballston Lake. He shared his faith through his work in the Residents Encounter Christ Prison Ministry Program and, with his wife, Chris, as a member of the Cursillo community.

He also served his community as a long-time member and former president of the Burnt-Hills Ballston Lake Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.

In his leisure time, Garry could be found with friends and family enjoying a variety of outdoor activities including golf, canoe camping on the waterways of his beloved Adirondacks, biking, and both cross-country and downhill skiing.

He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, ready for a family party at the slightest provocation.

Garry is survived by his beloved wife of almost 40 years, Christine Morrow; children, Shawn Morrow (Tammy) and Jacinda Ann Deukmejian; sister, Marilyn Lindy (Dan DeMicco), grandchildren, Liam and Makenna Morrow, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Along with his parents, Garry was predeceased by his brother, Richard Morrow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions were requested for The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s, 357 S McCaslin Blvd., Suite 105, Louisville, CO 80027.