Gavin Warner Credit: Courtesy
If you ever met Garvin Warner, you probably remember his easy laugh, his curiosity about the world and his deep love for the outdoors. Garvin was born on June 9, 1956, in Albany, N.Y., the son of Frank and Virginia Warner. He grew up in Guilderland, just outside Albany, where his sense of wonder and adventure began early — often with a backpack on his shoulders and a trail ahead.
As a boy, summers at Camp Chingachgook on Lake George shaped him profoundly. There he learned to paddle, climb and care for the natural world — but also how to build friendships that would last a lifetime. Those experiences led to countless outdoor adventures: backpacking through the Adirondacks, skiing down crisp New England slopes, swimming in Gilmore Pond or the ocean at Moody Beach, and later cycling the winding backroads of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Garvin’s curiosity led him first to Colgate University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and discovered a passion for science. He worked briefly for the U.S. Forest Service before heading west to Idaho — and it was there, in the wide landscapes he loved, that he met Margaret Wheeler. The two began a partnership that would span 46 years of shared adventure, quiet joy and unshakable companionship.
After returning to Albany, Garvin pursued his PhD in microbiology and Immunology at Albany Medical College of Union University, continuing his path of scientific discovery. From there he joined the University of Rochester Cancer Center as a postdoctoral fellow and research assistant professor and then transitioned into the biopharmaceutical world. Over the years, he held key scientific and leadership roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genetics Institute, Wyeth, Pfizer and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, and later consulted for innovative biotech companies. His work placed him on the edge of medical breakthroughs — where science meets hope.
But for all his accomplishments, Garvin’s life was never defined by titles or achievements. It was defined by connection — to people, to nature and to the idea that learning and compassion could make the world better. He gave his time and heart to his community as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, served as a trustee for the Derryfield School and Hebron Academy, and even helped design and build science classrooms for the Great Lakes Regional University in Kanungu, Uganda, creating opportunities for students halfway around the world to explore the beauty of science.
At home Garvin was happiest with his family: his wife, Margaret; his children, Danny and Chloe; his daughter-in-law, Ashley; and his grandson, Wesley, whose energy and curiosity filled him with pride. He shared his life, his laughter and his love of the outdoors with them, along with countless stories from a well-lived life.
To his friends, Garvin was fun, compassionate and endlessly curious — the kind of friend who would help you fix your bike, debate ideas late into the night or head out on a spontaneous adventure just to see what was over the next hill.
Garvin is survived by his beloved family: his wife, Margaret; his children, Danny (Ashley) and Chloe; his grandson, Wesley and his brothers, Hans and Nick, who were not just brothers but lifelong companions in friendship and in spirit.
Garvin’s life was a journey — one marked by discovery, kindness, laughter and a steadfast belief in the good that people and science can do together. Those who knew him will carry forward his curiosity, his generosity and his love for the world around him. In every mountain trail, in every shared laugh and in every act of kindness, his spirit lives on.
A celebration of life will be held on November 15, 2025, at 1 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 58 Lowell St., Nashua, NH 03064.
Arrangements are in the care of the Cremation Society of Chittenden County: A Division of the Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send online condolences please visit cremationsocietycc.com.
