Gary Alan Warner passed away unexpectedly at his home in San Jose, Califorinia on December 14, 2017. He was just 52 years of age.
The son of Donna (Provenzano) Warner and the late David Warner, Jr. and nephew of James Samberg and the late Barbara (Provenzano) Samberg as well as the grandson of Pat (Barbara) Provenzano. It was Mr. Provenzano who introduced pari-mutuel harness racing in western New York when he opened Batavia Downs in Batavia, N.Y. in 1941 and it became a family business.
Gary was born on April 17, 1965 in the 10th Ward in Rochester, N.Y. He attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Grammar School, Cardinal Mooney High School, and Gannon University. He excelled in many sports including golf, basketball, and soccer.
Gary’s easy-going demeanour and quick wit made him popular with everyone he met. He was especially proud of his high school soccer team at Cardinal Mooney and recalls with pleasure the year they won the NYS Championship.
Gary was the admissions director at Batavia Downs for many years where one of his favourite parts of the profession was greeting patrons, most of whom he knew by name.
After his tenure at Batavia Downs Gary moved to Palm Desert, Ca. in 1992 to pursue a career in the golf industry. It was there that he met his wife, Melissa. They were married in La Quinta, Ca. in the very room in which they met.
Gary became the Director of Corporate Tournaments at PGA West and he continued with that organization for many years before moving to San Jose where Melissa was residing prior to their marriage. After moving to San Jose, Gary became Warehouse Manager at Williams-Sonoma in Los Gatos, Ca and for over 11 years and he loved and was loved by his “work family”.
Gary’s passions included family, friends, the Pittsburgh Steelers and he treasured summers in Thousand Island Park, New York.
He so enriched the life of his wife Melissa Warner and was the devoted, proud father of Riley Warner, and embraced and cherished his step-son Grant Hendricks. Gary also left behind a tight family which includes his mom Donna, sisters: Amy (Carl) Munding , Julie (Michael) Miller and brothers David J III (Mary Beth) and Eric (Julia Poli). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.
There will be a memorial service held in San Jose, Ca. on January 20, 2018 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester, N.Y. on February 17, 2018 at 11:00 am.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Gary Warner.