Veteran journalist and Deputy Editor of the Ceylon Daily News Gary Garnier (53) passed away yesterday after a brief illness.An old boy of St. Peter’s College, Colombo, Gary began his journalistic career at The Island in the early 1990s. He joined the Daily News in 1994 as a sub editor and rose rapidly through the ranks to become its Deputy Editor.

Gary used his impeccable command of the English language to flawlessly sub and rewrite even the most mundane of news copies and give catchy headlines that instantly drew the attention of the reader. He worked with limitless passion and was a workaholic who never missed a single day’s work. Editors and superiors relied heavily on him to produce the paper day after day.

Gary had a wide knowledge of world affairs which he followed closely, in addition to his love for Hollywood movies and music. A voracious reader of English newspapers and magazines from around the world, he always took the time to guide novice sub editors and reporters on the correct way of subbing and writing stories, with an eye on truth and accuracy.

He was humble to a fault and always flashed a smile, in spite of the pressure of deadlines. Many journalists from other Lake House newspapers gathered at his desk in the afternoons to catch a joke or two to relieve their tension.

Gary’s untimely demise will be a huge loss to the Ceylon Daily News and to English journalism in Sri Lanka in general. Gary is survived by his wife Anjalie, a journalist at Daily News. Gary took to journalism after his beloved uncle Jem Garnier, the legendary sports writer.

His remains lied at the Peiris Funeral Parlour, Kalubowila from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Saturday (15) and the funeral was held at the “Nisala Arana” Kohuwela Cemetery at 2 p.m.