Cecil T. Gamory
Cecil T. Gamory, a master carpenter who built his own home Warwick and lived here for 40 years before moving to Florida two years ago, passed away in Hollywood, Fla., on Sunday, April 8, 2012 . He was 79 years old.
Born March 23, 1933, in New York City, he was the son of Joseph and Agatha (Pierre) Gamory.
He was raised in the Bronx and attended Alfred E. Smith High School.
He was married to the late Mary A. Sosak (2009), whom he met while they were working in Shrafts Restaurant in New York City.
Mr. Gamory retired as union (master) carpenter in New York City and was a member of St. Stephens R.C. Church in Warwick.
In his early professional years, he tried professional boxing for a short time, was a co-owner of a industrial dump truck and had a construction demolition and waste carting company.
In the 1970s, he attended City University of New York, studying construction engineering (while working full time and raising five children) and was elevated to construction superintendent for the Gramercy Contracting Company.
He was a friend to all people, irrespective of religious, racial or social background and lived a life that trail blazed social and racial equality, evidenced by his interracial marriage to Mary, his eclectic group of close friends and associates, and his love to host or attend frequent gatherings of friends and family.
In 1969, Mr. Gamory, along with a group of family members, friends and construction co-workers, started to build a home by hand over the next several years. This audacious idea, came to fruition in 1976, when he moved out of the Bronx and into Warwick, and is a testament to his courage, strength and vision.
He is survived by his children: Therese Harrison of Germantown, Md., Cecil T. Gamory Jr., Thaddeus Gamory of Boca Raton, Fla., Bernadette Gamory of Hollywood, Fla., Francine Gamory of Middletown and Tim Gamory of Warwick; a sister, Eltee Pierre of the Bronx; a brother, Sheldon Gamory of Brentwood; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be on Friday, April 13, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Stephens R.C. Church, followed by interment in St. Stephens Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be sent to Parkinsons Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.
For further information, directions or to send an online condolence, see www.lsvpmemorialhome.com.