Gregory Walter Garman

Gregory Walter Garman is survived by his partner of 49 years, Phyllis A. Greenberg Murr, M.D.; his daughter, Jessica E. Garman; her partner, Tyler C. Brown; and his beloved grandchildren, Julian Aaron and Elliott Henry Garman-Brown, of whom he was immensely proud. He was predeceased by his sister, Kathleen A. Garman, and his parents, Catherine (Rapak) Garman and Elmer Garman, Jr.

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1952, Greg contracted polio when he was three, just months before the vaccine became available. After surgery, he walked without a brace, though with a lasting limp. He refused to let that define him—trying to enlist in the military despite his disability and adapting with quiet determination. When a fall in 2020 left him wheelchair-bound he continued working, driving, and living on his own terms until the end.

Greg was the founder and sole force behind Green Hills Enterprises, an IT security firm he ran for over 25 years. Long before cybersecurity was widely known, he taught himself the intricacies of computers and transitioned from medical administration to a successful solo career.

He earned his degree from Albright College while working nights at Food Fair and as a phlebotomist at Reading Hospital—where he met Phyllis in a moment that became family legend. He later earned his MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Greg was a voracious reader with an astonishing memory. He once read The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire for fun and could trace genealogical lines with the precision of a historian. His research revealed that although he was born Ukrainian Catholic and Phyllis Jewish, their ancestors came from villages less than 50 miles apart.

In one of his favorite stories, Greg traveled to Ukraine to meet his mother’s relatives, only to celebrate—with vodka and laughter—with the wrong family! Once redirected to the correct cousin’s house, the party resumed, complete with a long-lost photo of his grandfather and his brothers.

Greg loved travel, especially to places rich in history. He delighted in food and cooked with enthusiasm—his specialties included oyster stuffing, hearty pasta dishes, and New England clam chowder! He adored dogs—especially Saint Bernards, of which he owned many. He was a proud member of the Leiderkranz and took deep pride in his Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, which included Revolutionary and Civil War veterans.

A quiet champion of fairness, Greg had a deep respect for service workers, always tipping generously. They mattered to him—he believed everyone’s dignity deserved to be honored.

Though he did not consider himself religious, Greg often said he hoped his sister Kathleen’s dreams of heaven were true—that she was watching from above with family and friends reunited. May that wish be granted, and may Greg now be reunited with those he loved and lost, looking down, smiling, and at peace.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 11:30am in Bean Funeral Homes, 129 E. Lancaster Ave., Shillington.  The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 10:30am to 11:30am in Bean Funeral Home, Shillington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Rescue League, the Berks History Center, or Hope for Ukraine (hpu.org).

He will be deeply missed, always remembered and lovingly carried forward, forever in our hearts.