Home » Home » OBITUARY: Co-Founder of Health First Larry Garrison, 70, of Cocoa Beach Passed Away June 4

OBITUARY: Co-Founder of Health First Larry Garrison, 70, of Cocoa Beach Passed Away June 4

By  //  June 17, 2020

co-founded Health First Iin 1995. and served as COO until his retirement in 2012

Larry Frazier Garrison, 70, son of JC and Ruth Garrison was called home to his Lord on Thursday, June 4, 2020, in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA – Larry Frazier Garrison, 70, son of JC and Ruth Garrison was called home to his Lord on Thursday, June 4, 2020, in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

He was born in Bradenton Florida. Larry is survived by his wife, best friend and soul mate, Jan Garrison as well as his sons, Chris Garrison of Bradenton, FL, Matt Garrison of Cocoa Beach and Justin Hope (Tina) of Merritt Island.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Cole, Grant, Gracie, Colin and Jasalin as well as his nephews Gary Guynn (Monica) of Sapphire Valley, NC and David Guynn of Lakeland, and niece Page Mosshart (Steve) of Cave Creek, AZ.

Preceding Larry in his passing were his parents and sister Linda Guynn of Lakeland, FL.

Larry earned a Finance degree from the University of Georgia and received an MBA in Hospital Administration from the University of Florida.

He first came to Brevard in 1973 to take on the role of assistant administrator at Cape Canaveral Hospital.

While there were a couple of years in which he served as Vice President of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Larry came back to Brevard in 1979 to accept the position of President and CEO Cape Canaveral Hospital.

Brevard Healthcare Visionary, Esteemed Community Leader Larry Garrison Passes Away June 4 at Age 70Related Story:
Brevard Healthcare Visionary, Esteemed Community Leader Larry Garrison Passes Away June 4 at Age 70

In 1995, he co-founded Health First Inc. and served as COO until his retirement in 2012.

Larry led the creation of Health First Health Plans, Health First Physicians, Hospice of Health First, Pro Health and Fitness and the construction of the Viera Hospital and Health Park

A well-respected healthcare executive in Florida and nationally, LG served as chairman of the Florida Hospital Association, Chairman of the Association of Voluntary Hospitals of Florida and Chairman of the Cocoa Beach Chamber of Commerce.

He was active in the Voluntary Hospitals of America, the American Hospital Association and the Healthcare Research and Development Institute.

Larry’s support of local charities is well recognized and he is loved and respected by all that knew him. His was a terrific storyteller and had a great humor.

In his free time, he loved golf with his friends and relaxing on his deck in Beech Mountain, NC. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Health First.

COMMUNITY SERVANT: When Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, Larry Garrison, third from right, was a charter member of the selection committee. Pictured above with Garrison are fellow committee members, left to right, Giles Malone, Rusty Buchanan, Keith Malone, Tom Palermo and Dr. Jim Palermo. (BBN image)
It was Larry Garrison’s constructive and very collegial collaboration with this generation of physicians that established Cape Canaveral Hospital as an excellent hospital consistently providing comprehensive, quality care across most all medical and surgical disciplines. (Image for SCD)
Former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles presents Larry Garrison with a proclamation during a visit by the governor to Brevard County in the early 1990s.
Larry Garrison with JoAnne Delgado, his long-time executive assistant. Delgado started working at Cape Canaveral Hospital in 1984 as a Candy-striper. (SCD image)
THE PULSE: Larry Garrison’s appointment as the administrator Of Cape Canaveral Hospital was featured on the front page of the April/May 1979 edition of the Pulse, CCH’s newsletter.
Larry was born in Bradenton Florida and is survived by his wife, best friend and soul mate, Jan Garrison, above, as well as his sons, Chris Garrison of Bradenton, Matt Garrison of Cocoa Beach and Justin Hope (Tina) of Merritt Island.

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