Larry Garrison, who co-founded Health First in 1995 and served as president and chief operating officer until his retirement in 2012, died Thursday night after a battle with cancer. He was 70.
“Larry was a visionary who helped pave the path for healthcare in Brevard County," Steve Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Health First said in a statement Saturday. "He, along with Mike Means, had the foresight to see what the Space Coast needed in its quest for overall wellness and health, helping to establish the Integrated Delivery Network that our community has come to trust and depend on."
Garrison had a degree in finance from the University of Georgia and a master of business administration in hospital administration from the University of Florida. He came to the Space Coast in 1973 to work as assistant administrator and controller at Cape Canaveral Hospital.
He worked in Tallahassee for a few years before returning to Cape Canaveral Hospital in 1979 as president and chief executive officer, a role he held for 16 years.
In 1995, Garrison and Mike Means, president and CEO of Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, joined resources to form Health First.
"The creation of Health First, through the merging of Cape Canaveral Hospital and Holmes Regional Center, began an incredible journey that continues to serve Brevard today and is growing along with our residents’ needs," Johnson said. "Not only did he help transform local healthcare, but he was an amazing human being, community member and family man. We mourn his loss but celebrate his life and all he did to make Brevard a better, healthier place for us all.”
The hospitals can serve the people of Brevard County better together, said Pam Gatto, who chairs the Health First Board of Trustees. "Larry was one of the visionaries who understood this," she said.
In addition to Holmes and Cape Canaveral, Health First also includes Palm Bay Hospital and Viera Hospital, which opened in 2011.
Garrison and Means mapped out plans for Health First on a napkin while sitting at a back booth at Bernard's Surf in Cocoa Beach, said Rusty Fisher, who owned the long-closed restaurant.
"He was just a guy that everybody liked," Fisher said. "He loved all his employees, all his managers."
Fisher was on the Board of Directors at Cape Canaveral Hospital when Garrison was hired.
"He became my best friend," Fisher said. "He treated people the way you're supposed to be treated. I think he and I came from that same cloth. We both did the same thing."
Larry Bishop, a Health First dermatologist, also remembered Garrison as a caring man.
"I knew him as a kind, considerate man who loved his family, his community and Health First," said Larry Bishop, a Health First doctor. "He had a quiet way of gathering consensus that made everyone in the room feel empowered. There aren't enough people in this world like Larry Garrison."
In addition to his professional work, Garrison gave back to the community. He served as president of the Health First Foundation, a member of the Brevard County Civilian Military Community Relations Council, chairman of the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, vice chairman of the King Center, chairman of the Brevard Community College Foundation, as well as serving on numerous national and state medical and business boards.
"Larry Garrison was such a genuine person," said Rob Raines, president of United Way of Brevard. "He cared about his team at Cape Canaveral Hospital, then Health First. And Larry cared about his community."
Fisher said he will miss his friend. They played golf together at Suntree Country Club at 1 p.m. every Thursday. Their foursome included Dr. Francis Pooser of Melbourne Beach, who died June 2, and the late Dr. Jim Carter, who died in 2017.
"They're going to have to find a new fourth up there," Fisher said.
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