David H. “Chip” Garland, Jr. of Killington, died suddenly on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.
Son of the late David H. and Ruth M. (Curley) Garland, Chip Garland is survived by his siblings Tom and his wife Carol of Northwood, New Hampshire, Marianne McCourt and her husband David of Medford, Massachusetts and Paul and his wife Janis of Medford, Massachusetts.
He was the “fun” uncle of Christopher Garland and his wife Angie of Northwood, New Hampshire, Drew Garland of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Katie Garland of Wenham, Massachusetts, David (DJ) McCourt of Denver, Colorado and Ian McCourt of Medford, Massachusetts. He was also the great uncle of Cameron Garland of Northwood, New Hampshire.
Chip Garland was authentic. If you knew him, that means you laughed with him – a lot. You remember his eyes and the mischief constantly being plotted behind them.
He was an adventurer who loved the mountains and the ocean. In his youth, he learned to sail at the Medford Boat Club and was a first-generation East Coast surfer. His love of skiing started at “Seven Bumps” in Malden, but he quickly graduated to the mountains of New England.
Chip served in the Army during Vietnam and was stationed in Germany to help protect US installations. After the military, he worked at ski resorts in Aspen, Colorado and even did a stint on a commercial fishing boat out of San Diego. Eventually, he returned to Medford and joined the fire department where he rose to the rank of captain before retiring in 2003. That was when he permanently moved to his “Happy Place,” Killington, where he could ski in the winter and enjoy his motorcycle in the summer.
Above all else, Chip loved sharing good times with others. Everyone has a favorite “Chippa” story that will make you laugh until you cry. He would not want us to mourn for him. He would prefer we “remember the good times” or tell one of his many jokes. His loss reminds us that the true value of a man’s life is the degree to which he enriched the lives of those around him.
Chip Garland’s burial service will be private, but we will plan a celebration of his life for all to attend in the future.
Donations in Chip’s memory may be made to Rutland County Humane Society: rchsvt.org/helping-us/donate.