Even miles away, in Florida, you are often in my thoughts. Something will happen at a CE dinner, or if I’m circling a parking lot looking for a parking spot, I’ll laugh to myself and think about you teasing me. Miss you, Garrick! 

Garrick and I met in optometry school in Chicago in the fall of 1997 and really hit it off from the get go.  Little did we know at the time how good we had it.  Life was so simple back then.  We (Garrick, Paul, Dan, Chad, and I) practically ate every meal together in the dorms our first year at ICO.

We had so many similar interests from sports to Seinfeld.

We played countless hours of NCAA football on PlayStation in between studying and clinic.  Of course, Garrick always chose University of Florida for his team.  I got scored on so many times that I memorized the UF fight song.  I would whistle the UF fight song and he got a big kick out of the fact that I learned it by heart.

We (Garrick, Ethan, Todd, Chad, Ben, Chris, Jeff, and I) played on the same basketball team (the big green machine) for 3 years and were intramural champs our 3rd year.  We would often shoot around and had 3 point shooting contests.

Garrick and I went to a Bulls game and saw Jordan play.  We went to a Cubs game in April but left early because it started to snow.  We went to a Blackhawks game with Kenny.  When we got back to his car he wouldn't unlock the doors so that we could "experience" what a real winter felt like, and it was freezing.

We (Garrick, Sam, Dan, and I) would go golfing and Garrick always asked to borrow my glove.

We (Garrick, Sam, Leighton, Jason, and I) would play cards (hold 'em) all night long.

We listened to rap music such as Notorious BIG.  I specifically remember Garrick would rap “Girls pee pee when they see me, Navajos creep me in they teepee!”

Garrick and I shared so many meals together.  I specifically remember going to the Great Wall in Chinatown, O'Malley's, and Scumaci's.

We (Garrick, Paul, Dan, Chad, and I) explored Chicago on foot.  We took the bus, taxis, and the “L”.  I specifically remember the Hangge Uppe and Banana Joe’s. Garrick would always offer to buy me a beer.

While we were all on externship, Garrick and Ann were in Florida and I was in South Carolina. We met up and I noticed that they were hanging out a lot.

We (Garrick, Ann, Kim, and I) went to a water park and Busch gardens in Tampa, and took boards in Miami.

When we all got back to Chicago for graduation I found out that only Garrick and Ann were taking a trip to Europe.  A few years later, I wasn’t surprised when Garrick told me he was going to propose to Ann.  I was honored when Garrick asked me to be his best man.

I was looking forward to one day reminiscing with Garrick.

Garrick was one of my best friends at ICO.

I will cherish the great memories.

Rest In Peace.

You will be missed.

My husband, Gary, and I went to ICO with Ann and Garrick.  We didn't get a chance to know them as a couple since we lost touch after graduation. But both Gary and I have fun memories of each of them individually and weren't too shocked to hear they had gotten together. Thank goodness for the magic of Facebook to keep us in the loop! 

I first met Garrick in the fall of 1997 at the beginning of optometry school. We were standing in line in the gym, maybe to have ID photos taken, and he introduced himself making sure to point out that his name was not Garrett or Derrick but Garrick. I have yet to meet another Garrick! He was one of a kind.

As spring break of our first year rolled around, someone suggested taking a road trip out west to go skiing. I don't remember whose idea it was but reading posts about Garrick and his love of sport and travel, it very well may have been his. I didn't even know how to ski well but it sounded like fun, so five of us crammed into my Subaru Legacy and headed out to Colorado. We stopped to rest a bit in Lincoln, NE, Chad's home town. We couldn't leave the city without checking out the Cornhusker stadium. It was locked up but if I remember correctly, Garrick and Chad figured out a way to make it on to the field.

On our road trip back home to Chicago, we stopped to check out the Badlands and Deadwood, SD. Garrick couldn't pass up the opportunity to do a little gambling in Deadwood and ended up winning enough to pay for the tiny hotel room he, Katrina and I shared for a night.

I was shocked and saddened to hear of Garrick's passing. I hope all these stories and photos help keep his spirit alive. And help you to know that he touched the lives of so many and is remembered fondly by all.