It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of PGA Life Member Francis “Buzz” Garvin; he was 84. He was predeceased by his wife Suellen, and survived by his children Timothy Garvin (Kathryn Garvin) and Mary Kate DiNisio (Andrew DiNisio); and his grandchildren, Paige Garvin, Ella DiNisio, James Garvin and Connor DiNisio.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, November 26 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Patrick Catholic Church (13591 Prosperity Farms Rd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410). A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 26 at 1:00 p.m. at the same location.

In lieu of flowers or cards please consider a donation in the name of Buzz Garvin to: South Florida PGA Foundation, 7201 South Georgia Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33405.

Buzz Garvin was born at Garden City, N.Y., in 1938 and grew up in Colorado. He learned to play golf as a caddy at the Cherry Hills C.C., and attended the University of Colorado where he played on the basketball team. In 1959, Garvin turned professional, joining the PGA Tour with an “Approved Players Card.” For four years he was on and off the tour, and in 1962, he played in the U.S. Open at Oakmont C.C.

He was working for Sam Snead and Gary Nixon in Boca Raton in late 1962 when Nixon was hired as the PGA Professional at the Philmont C.C. In the spring of that next year Garvin came to the Philadelphia PGA Section as Nixon’s playing and teaching assistant at Philmont. Three years later when Nixon left Philmont, Garvin took over the PGA Head Professional position.

As a player in the Section, he qualified for the PGA Championship twice and finished second in the Philadelphia Open two straight years. In 1967, Garvin was a member of the first Schmidt Challenge Cup team. Late in 1971, he became involved in PGA politics when he was elected second vice president of the Section.

Garvin hosted the Section Championship in 1974. He served as the second vice president for three years, and in late 1974, Garvin became the 21st Section president. He was reelected twice, holding the office from 1975 through 1977. As the Section president, he created the Booster Pro-Am, which was used to thank the Section’s tournament sponsors and was instrumental in creating new ones. Also he formed an advisory committee composed of some of the region’s leading amateurs.

Garvin was a delegate to the PGA Annual Meeting three times. In 1977 he was the Section’s Golf Professional of the Year. He left Philmont in 1984 to be the PGA Professional at the Overbrook G.C., where he stayed four years before taking a PGA Head Professional position at a new club in Florida.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.