Westford's Al Garside: Army Vet, Monument Company Owner Dies at 81

Westford is mourning the death of Al Garside.

An Army veteran, he went on to own Garside Monuments/Granite. He helped install Westford’s fallen firefighters and 9/11 memorials.

This is his obituary:

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Alfred “Al” J. Garside, 81, of Westford, died Friday, September 18, 2015, surrounded by his loving family at his home in Westford. He was married to the late Betty J. Garside, who died on April 5, 1984.

Born in Lowell, June 24,1934, he was the son of the late Johnand Gertrude (Berger) Garside. He received his education in the Lowell school system then attended the trade school for carpentry.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army.

He began working at Fletcher’s Quarry in Westford in 1951, during the worker’s strike in the late 50’s he left and went to Barretto Granite in Milford, NH. For many years, Al owned and operated Garside Monuments/Granite of Westford, until he passed the torch to his grandson, John Thomas Smith “J.T.”, who proudly continues to operate the business today.

Al loved spending time with his cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren at his farm house in Parsonsfield, ME. One of his favorite things to do in the fall was attend the Fryeburg fair in Fryeburg, ME.

He is survived by two daughters, Lauri (Garside) Maloney and her husband Dennis of Townsend, and Shari (Garside) Smith of Pepperell. Five grandchildren, John Thomas “J.T.” Smith III and his wife Victoria of Westford, Katrina Smith and her husband David Allen of Pepperell, Nicole Smith of Pepperell, and Thomas Maloney and Adam Maloney, both of Townsend; three great-grandchildren, Kalli and Kendall Allen of Pepperell and Paige Smith of Westford. His long-time companion, Elizabeth Bumford, of Sanbornville, NH. A son-in-law, John T. Smith Jr. Four brothers, Carl Garside and his wife Lillian of Westford, Edward Garside and his wife Josephine of Pepperell, John Garside and his wife Doris of Londonderry, NH, and Robert Garside and his wife Myrtle of Westford, and two sisters, Gertrude Patenaude of Portsmouth RI, and Linda Muller and her husband Michael of South Reading, VT. A sister-in-law, Beverly Garside of Westford. He was predeceased by four brothers and three sisters, Walter Garside, who died in WWII, Andrew Garside, Charles Garside, Ralph Garside, Eleanor Garside, Doris Phelps and Lillian Oganowski.

The family would like to thank Ascend Hospice and Guardian Angels from the VA, especially Pam, Laura and Ava, for their wonderful care. A special thanks to all our family and friends who have helped take care of Al through this journey.

Visiting hours Tues. 4 to 8 P.M. Funeral Wed. at 11A.M. at the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD. Burial in the Fairview Cemetery, Westford. Memorials may be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041.

Photo: Westford Remembers Memorial Fund