In Memoriam

Professional, Family Man, and Friend

Earlier today I returned from Gary March’s memorial service which celebrated his life. It is important that we celebrate one’s accomplishments and not mourn their passing; Gary would want it this way for sure.

I have many fond memories of his accomplishments but the problem is where to start and where to stop. I could write stories about his heralded past, but I would rather remember the three phases of his life.

As a neurodiagnostic professional
Gary was always teaching. Whether the basics of electrophysiology or basic anatomy and physiology, it didn’t matter as long as he was imparting the information he had learned or exploring the development of a new technology. He often told me that when he taught, he always learned more about the subject he was teaching. That became his quest, to give everyone a better start than what he had. Mentoring other professionals was the most important thing in his professional life, reaching out to those less fortunate not to have teachers or another staff member trying to climb the wall of success. Not just neurodiagnostics, but everything to do with the profession including managing others. The Albany Medical Center’s neurodiagnostic lab is one of the best in the New York State because of him and his tutorship. Gary was also a driving force in starting, nurturing, and maintaining The Charles E. Henry Society. I first heard about Gary March through friends in the Buffalo area as a member of the Western NY Society of END techs. Someone told me this guy in Albany had a society called the Empire State Society and that we ought to talk with him about combining forces and creating a New York State Society. The very next day I looked up his phone number and gave him a call. In our first meeting Gary and I hit it off like we were best friends and from there was born The Charles Henry Society. During those early years Gary and I talked at least once a week and more like daily and we became close friends and colleagues. Both of us began to lay the foundation for education of New York technologists by planning meetings together, creating a charter, bylaws, and getting the word out. When he was in front of the classroom teaching he was in his natural element. Fluid in his presentation and captivating his audience, Gary knew exactly what he wanted to teach and would not leave until everyone had a firm understanding of the subject he was talking about. When he finished and on breaks, there was always a group of people asking questions and debating ideas.

One area where he was not well schooled was in entertainment. This brief story tells of how he could adapt to almost any situation. We were asked by the then President of ASET, Denise Frye, to do a skit as the Blues Brothers for the meeting held in Chicago in 1995. Gary and I were both on the ASET Board of Trustees. This was a joint ACNS/ASET meeting. We took the challenge and started to put our act together. We chose songs to be done and Gary re-wrote all the words to fit the neurodiagnostic community. We got together one time on my mother-in-law’s boat on a small lake. Gary brought a tape of the songs with no words and we practiced singing and dancing the steps we would use. I sent the tape to the band that would be performing for the social. When the time came to get dressed and start our show, Gary was a wreck, sweating, and very nervous. I was charged up, but being a musician, I had done this many times. I told him to relax and treat it like any other lecture he would be giving that week. We went on and he was like a pro and the skit came off great and those that saw can remember it was a memory to hold onto forever. Although Dr. Henry disowned us that evening he often talked about the performance of the “Henry Boys. “There are many more memories of Gary teaching, laughing that familiar laugh, and I am sure you that knew him have your favorite. One thing I can say, when Gary walked into a room full of professionals, the lights came on.

Gary the Family Man
This area is where we did not know much about each other. I know his wife Suzy and know that they were more than just husband and wife, they were best friends. While sitting at his memorial I got to know Gary’s personal family life more in thirty minutes than I had in thirty years. One by one his family and friends talked about Gary and Uncle Gary and about how he loved to teach the kids how to fi sh. His patience was exactly like the patience he had with teaching his profession. Gary was a master boater and how he loved boating and fishing and teaching anyone who wanted to learn these arts. There was one comment that echoed loudly, “Whatever you do, don’t hook Uncle Gary.” His memorial service, although sad at times, was one of remembering a great man and his passion for teaching and learning as he taught. I left that day with an inner peace knowing he is probably teaching our maker a thing or two about something.

Gary the Friend
After leaving a meeting somewhere, whether it was ASET or one of the regional and state societies, we began planning our next endeavor. I so looked forward to our reunions at these meetings. We would talk all the time planning our missions and the festivities we were going to do. We always arrived a day or two prior to the meeting so we could go out and about in the various cities. We created “boys night out” which was always an evening out on the town when we arrived early. “The Office” was born when the two of us would sit at a table in the hotel bar and tum one of those triangular signs on the table inside out and write on it “Office Open.” Sitting at that table in a short while were many others where the debates would start. We would drink and talk for hours and debate what was next in our profession. I remember one time in the hotel bar in Kansas City after about a half hour after the office opened I looked around at some twenty-five people standing around listening to our debates. Gary’s sometime boisterous voice and laugh just drew people to our area like a magnet does metal. He never ceased to amaze me.

When I was going through some rough times personally I could always have his ear. He never said “you should do this or that,” but instead helped me to realize that the answer to my dilemma was within me. We didn’t call on each other much for this kind of support but we both knew we could anytime day or night.

Gary was a kind man full of passion for the things that he loved and was always there when you needed him. Last minute lecture, chair of a committee, mentoring, a shoulder to cry on, it didn’t matter he was always there when you needed him.

I am missing him but know in my heart he is in a better place awaiting our arrival so we may open the office again.

I love you, brother, and may peace be with you.

– Bobby Taskey, R. EEG T., CNIM

At times like these, hearts feel so empty, and when the heart is empty, words with meaning are hard to find. When I think of Gary, I remember how full of life, love, and laughter he was. I’ll never forget that laugh of his… so robust and contagious. He always looked to the future with great optimism whether it was neurodiagnostics related or just going out in his boat to catch some bass.

Gary was a charter member of our society, “The Charles E. Henry Society of END Technologists”, and served as President and Treasurer. He was extremely instrumental in organizing the conferences and was also a highly respected instructor and lecturer.

I worked with Gary at Albany Medical Center from 1988 to 2001. I also occasionally worked for him and his company “March Monitoring” after he left Albany Medical Center.

He was my boss, my co-worker, a great fishin’ buddy, and a close friend.

” … good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels wing thee to thy peace.. .”Shakespeare

– Nancy Finn, R. EEG T.
Albany, New York

Originally published in:

The Neurodiagnostic Journal, 51: 137–140.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1086508X.2011.11079815