Columbia Athletics Mourns The Recent Passing Of John T. Garnjost '56CC, '61BUS
3/24/2021 2:33:00 PM | Heavyweight Rowing, Lightweight Rowing
John T. Garnjost, was a member of Columbia Heavyweight Rowing (1954-56) and served the rowing community as a respected official on the international stage.
NEW YORK — Columbia Athletics mourns the recent passing of John T. Garnjost '56CC, '61BUS, who passed away peacefully on Jan. 5, 2021.
Garnjost was a varsity student-athlete at Columbia, as a member of the Columbia Heavyweight Crew from 1954-56. He would eventually become a respected rowing official. Receiving the prestigious Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee for outstanding merit in the cause of world sport, specifically for his work in Taiwan.
The Olympic Order is "the supreme individual honor accorded. It was created in 1974 and is to be awarded to any person who has illustrated the Olympic Ideal through his/her action, has achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world, or has rendered outstanding services to his/her own personal achievement(s) or his/her contribution to the development of sport." Garnjost, at the time, was just the 53rd American to receive this honor. He was profiled by Columbia College Today upon receiving this prestigious award.
"Even though John was recognized across the globe for his skill as an umpire at the World Championships and Olympics," said Columbia Lightweight Rowing Head Coach Nich Lee Parker. "He always found the time to give back to Columbia and the three rowing programs.
"I was fortunate enough to meet John when our 2018 squad earned the right to represent Columbia at Henley Royal Regatta. He found a way to be there and took time away from his busy schedule to meet with the team and remind them that each crew's success is part of the larger story of our University, which made a great impact on the team. John will be missed, not just at Columbia but by the entire rowing community."
From 1970-1999, Garnjost served as a FISA-licensed international rowing official who officiated both in the U.S. and internationally. He officiated at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and in 2000 he received the John Carlin Award from US Rowing. In 2003, Garnjost received the George Shiebler Award from the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and in 2013 he received the Dick Alcock Award for 50 years of Service and Dedication to U.S. Rowing.
After graduating from Columbia College in 1956, Garnjost was a U.S Air Force pilot from 1956-59 and served in Japan and Taiwan. Returning to Columbia for Business School after serving in the armed forces, he eventually spent 24 years working at the New York corporate headquarters of the Bristol-Myers Company, before becoming the Bristol-Myers Company's Managing Director, in Malaysia, and President and General Manager in Taiwan.
Garnjost is survived by his wife Janet of 47 years, and by daughters Alison Garnjost of Savannah, Ga. and Valerie Garnjost (Matthew Lacy) of Bluffton, S.C.
Garnjost was a varsity student-athlete at Columbia, as a member of the Columbia Heavyweight Crew from 1954-56. He would eventually become a respected rowing official. Receiving the prestigious Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee for outstanding merit in the cause of world sport, specifically for his work in Taiwan.
The Olympic Order is "the supreme individual honor accorded. It was created in 1974 and is to be awarded to any person who has illustrated the Olympic Ideal through his/her action, has achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world, or has rendered outstanding services to his/her own personal achievement(s) or his/her contribution to the development of sport." Garnjost, at the time, was just the 53rd American to receive this honor. He was profiled by Columbia College Today upon receiving this prestigious award.
"Even though John was recognized across the globe for his skill as an umpire at the World Championships and Olympics," said Columbia Lightweight Rowing Head Coach Nich Lee Parker. "He always found the time to give back to Columbia and the three rowing programs.
"I was fortunate enough to meet John when our 2018 squad earned the right to represent Columbia at Henley Royal Regatta. He found a way to be there and took time away from his busy schedule to meet with the team and remind them that each crew's success is part of the larger story of our University, which made a great impact on the team. John will be missed, not just at Columbia but by the entire rowing community."
From 1970-1999, Garnjost served as a FISA-licensed international rowing official who officiated both in the U.S. and internationally. He officiated at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and in 2000 he received the John Carlin Award from US Rowing. In 2003, Garnjost received the George Shiebler Award from the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and in 2013 he received the Dick Alcock Award for 50 years of Service and Dedication to U.S. Rowing.
After graduating from Columbia College in 1956, Garnjost was a U.S Air Force pilot from 1956-59 and served in Japan and Taiwan. Returning to Columbia for Business School after serving in the armed forces, he eventually spent 24 years working at the New York corporate headquarters of the Bristol-Myers Company, before becoming the Bristol-Myers Company's Managing Director, in Malaysia, and President and General Manager in Taiwan.
Garnjost is survived by his wife Janet of 47 years, and by daughters Alison Garnjost of Savannah, Ga. and Valerie Garnjost (Matthew Lacy) of Bluffton, S.C.
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