- By Lansing Funeral Home
- Obituaries
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January 21, 1946 – May 27, 2006
Steve Garner was a man of utmost honesty, integrity, and commitment. He was a dedicated family man, a passionate business leader, and a friend and mentor to countless people. Steve was a tireless worker and was committed to building relationships with his family, within the organizations he worked with and supported, and throughout the communities he served. He had a playful spirit, and a wonderful sense of humor. Of Steve’s many gifts, he will be remembered as a remarkable leader. He cared deeply about the personal and professional development of his family, friends, and business associates. Nothing made Steve as happy as seeing the people around him grow to their full potential. Steve also possessed a competitive team spirit. When asked by a reporter how to “beat the competition,” he responded by saying that first you must “respect the competition.” From the basketball court to the boardroom, Steve always had a deep respect for both his competitors and his teammates. Steve was also a gifted communicator, individually, and in front of the many groups with whom he spoke. His humor, presence, and genuine affection for others will be dearly missed.
Steve had many passions, his love for his wife Kathy being first among them; from the moment he saw her in the Fairport High School cafeteria he was smitten. He also adored his three children, Chapin, Trevor, and Kara, and his four grandchildren, Sam, Emma, Katie, and Grace. Steve also absolutely loved community banking in New York, and he believed that success in community banking is measured by what a bank gives back to the community it serves. As a life-long athlete and sports fan, Steve thoroughly enjoyed attending and supporting numerous local sporting events and teams. While Steve also loved golf, skiing, biking, hiking, fiesta parties, and living in upstate New York, he did not love these activities in and of themselves, he loved the relationships and the community he experienced through them.
Steve was born in Rochester, NY on January 21, 1946, to Emma Smith and Elwood Arthur Garner. He grew up in Fairport, NY with his older sister Elizabeth. Steve was a proud Red Raider and an All-County forward on Fairport’s basketball team. He attended the College of Wooster in Ohio, where he majored in biology. He was married to Kathleen Martin on August 10, 1968. Steve began his career in banking at Lincoln First Bank, in Rochester, NY. In 1982, Steve became the President of Lincoln First’s NBW division in Westchester County. In 1984, he became the Regional Executive of Chase Manhattan Bank’s Northern Metropolitan Region in Westchester County. In 1988, Steve was named Executive vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hudson Valley National Bank and, in 1994, then became the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mahopac National Bank. For the past three years, Steve has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tompkins Trust Company in Ithaca. Of course, it is important to note that during these years he moonlit as a coach for many of his children’s athletic teams; an avocation that was every bit as important to him as his banking career. In addition, he has participated extensively in community service organizations in all the communities of which he has been a part – so much so that it is overwhelming for his family to list all of the many organizations he served and cared for so deeply. He had a life long commitment to his local church, institutions of higher education, The United Way, and the American Heart Association. And, of course, he was an ultimate support for his wife Kathy and her commitment to Hospicare and Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service. Since moving to Ithaca, his heart went out to the mission, staff and volunteers of the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance.
Steve died at the Cayuga Medical Center on Saturday, May 27, 2006. He was 60 years old. Steve’s death came suddenly, and far too early, but his family feels truly blessed for the many years they enjoyed with him as a husband, father, grandfather, role model, and friend.
Kathy, Chapin, Trevor, and Kara want to thank their extended family, friends, and the entire Ithaca community for their love, support, and prayers in this difficult time. A memorial service will be held Saturday June 3 at 2:00 pm at the First Congregational Church, 309 Highland Road, Ithaca. A reception will be held immediately following the worship service.
Donations in memory of Steve can be sent to the Stephen E. Garner Fund at Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund in care of Donald Stewart, PO Box 460, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Fund will continue the community outreach he and Kathy were so committed to.