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Garfield
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25607		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Veelee [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Garfield
AMCostaRica has an obit for Garfield on it's front page today.
Author:  Livincr [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:12 am ]
Post subject: 
for those who don't bother to log on to A.M, CR

Unique U.S. expat survived his financial reverses

By Dan Wise
Special to A.M. Costa Rica


Long time resident Garfield George Wagner a familiar imposing presence in the Gringo bar circuit is gone. "Field," as he was known by his family, was highly visible for years in the San Jose's Downtown scene. Locals will well remember the immaculately groomed, 6-foot, 4-inch, bigger-than-life guy with the perfect tan, big toothy smile and long blond pony tail. He always was in a perfectly tailored suit with a crisp white shirt and a bunch of ribbons and an occasional medal on his suit as he went out and about nightly.



What most did not know was that the local eligible bachelor was a bona fide war hero. He was nominated for the Medal of Honor and received the Silver Star, two purple hearts and numerous other ribbons. Garfield singlehandedly returned over and over through hostile enemy fire and land mines to carry six wounded members of his squad to safety.

Born in Flint, Michigan, of a well-known family, he attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana and then served three tours in Vietnam as a member of a 73rd Airborne long-range patrol unit. He lived in the jungle and captured enemy combatants alive for interrogation. He once described the job as "something like deer hunting" in an article in the Flint Journal's July 21, 1968, edition.


Garfield lived a full life in the Key Biscayne area of Miami and became a very successful stockbroker with Merrill Lynch. He had a big house and a big boat. He was once featured on the Sally Jessy Raphael show as one of America's most famous eligible bachelors. He finally got caught at least seven times by his own admission.

In the 1990s when he was a participant in the Villalobos Brothers' high-interest scheme he traveled at times in a limo and with a bodyguard, thanks to the monthly envelopes full of interest in cash.

He lived well in San José until his friend Luis Enrique Villalobos stopped paying him for his
Garfield Wagner
frequently wore one of his decorations with his civilian clothes. In this case it is a Purple Heart.



investment. That was in 2002. Then he had to revert to his former army training to survive in the jungles of northern Costa Rica. He lived off the land by fishing and trapping to eat. After steadfastly trusting Enrique, Garfield finally realized in the last days that his money was gone. It seemed to hit him hard He took his meager savings, got a custom-tailored suit and went into San José for a final farewell.

He never complained about his loss and continued to live his life to the fullest even to the end. Perhaps readers saw him out early in the month. Garfield spent his last three years in the jungle reading books and talking with me about the world.

It was my honor to be his friend at the end. What a man he was. Things will not be the same around the Río Colorado Lodge without him. Come to think about it, this stand-up guy who did million dollar deals all of his life on a handshake may have just died of a broken heart, another casualty of the "Brothers."

He checked in to Hospital San Juan de Dios last week and died Oct. 9. He was in his early 60s.
Author:  Papichullo [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
RIP Garfield! Always fond memories of him at the BM Bar! Back in his heyday with his trademark Kelly Green and Purple suits! Always wondered what happened to him...now we know!
Author:  Flacoduro1 [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Papichullo wrote:
RIP Garfield! Always fond memories of him at the BM Bar! Back in his heyday with his trademark Kelly Green and Purple suits! Always wondered what happened to him...now we know!


I too wondered what happened to him, another victim of the brothers, I just can't believe that some one who worked for Merrill Lynch would put his entire nest egg in one basket.
Flaco
Author:  Irish Drifter [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Last saw Garfield about two months ago at a neighborhood fish fry. He had started collecting his social security and looked good. He was still spending a lot of time at Rio Colorado Lodge but did come back to gulch frequently. Heard, but have been able to confirm, that he died of a heart attack.

First met him back in 1992 when he use to frequent the old NYB. He along with Sailor Bill were two of the old gringo gulch characters. Most all of them from that era of the gulch are sadly gone and have not been replaced. RIP Garfield.
Author:  CRT Bound [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
RIP Garfield,

I never did meet or talk to him but do remember seeing him in the BM a few times.
Author:  Circus [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
YO I.D

Did you mean have or have not confirmed he died of a heart attack?

YO indeed, him and Sailor Bill were original characters. Those relatively new to CRT and CR have no clue as to the hand full of ex-pats that made the gulch a colorful place over the last thirty years.

I AM surprised a bit that Garfield just gave up...if that in fact was what he did. A piece of the puzzle is missing because I just cannot buy that he did not have a parachute savings/investment other than the Brothers. Yes, he lived the style but there has got to be more to his demise.

I have not spoken with him since the Brothers went down....wish I could have. Although I served mostly with the 82nd Airborne I was attached to the 73rd for a couple of missions. I did not know him in Nam but can truly say that he was the real deal....a good and brave soldier.

Sad news, very sad. I just wish I knew why he apparently gave up. I'll say a prayer for him and then say "Take care George and bless you."
Author:  Irish Drifter [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
Circus wrote:
YO I.D

Did you mean have or have not confirmed he died of a heart attack?


From what I have been told he died from a heart attack but the final cause will not be official until the autopsy results are released.

Circus wrote:
I AM surprised a bit that Garfield just gave up...if that in fact was what he did. A piece of the puzzle is missing because I just cannot buy that he did not have a parachute savings/investment other than the Brothers. Yes, he lived the style but there has got to be more to his demise.


From what I have learned, and this not word on the street, he actually did lose everything and lived for a couple of years in the jungle near Barra del Colorado. He became friendly with Dan Wise who owns a tarpon fishing lodge there. Dan helped him out a little by giving him odd jobs around the lodge. Garfield himself told me this and Dan also said the same thing. One of my neighbors has a financial interest in the lodge and spends sometime there. He was the one who invited Garfield to the fish fry where I last spoke to him. He said he was now collecting his social security and things had improved in his life.
Author:  Jdd [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Saw Garfield at the BM a few weeks ago, hadn't seen him for several years before that. He was a character and was always fun to talk to. Seems like years ago he always had a driver/body guard with him. He'll be missed.
Author:  Tuanis [ Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
He will be missed. I first remember Garfield from around the early ninties.
About the time the Del Rey opened, before it became what it is now. He always put on a hell of a show. My last memeories of him, are whem my wife threw a rael ritzy birthday party for me at the Casa de Espana in sabaqna norte. This was about 2000 or 2001. Garfield was invited and came in his usual super cool duds. My wife loved the guy. Any way, half way through the party, my wife came and got me and said "we have a small problem". Garfield was drunk in the kitchen looking for ice cream. He had pots and pans all over the floor and was convinced the help was hiding the ice cream from him. Comical as hell. As he did not have his driver or body gaurd with him, we escorted him to a taxi and he went on his merry way. I,ll remember that night forever. He will be missed by those of us that knew him

tuanis
Author:  Veelee [ Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Jackets
I'll always remember the jackets without the shirt. He did some sort of exponential sort of guaro shots if the legend at the time was correct. First one then two then four, ... I spoke to him only briefly when I used to go to the gulch regularly, but he seemed to be quite the character. He was always someone who was mentioned in the gossip. For example I heard about him losing a limo to a driver, though who knows about the rumor mill. While hanging out with a friend at the American Legion hall in Escazu people had lots of stories about him. [/i]
Author:  El Viejo [ Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:01 am ]
Post subject: 
I regret that I did not get the chance to meet him. Sounds like a real character.

Why don't one of you guys write him up with a Del Rey twist and submit it to Readers Digest for their "Unforgettable Characters" submission :wink:
Author:  DiegoC [ Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Some really fine people call this place home. R I P.
Author:  DiegoC [ Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
El Viejo Do you live down here? If not, are you going to visit soon? You seem like a great guy and I would like to heft a cool one with you!
Author:  El Viejo [ Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:49 am ]
Post subject: 
Sorry, I do not live in CR and will probably not get back there until late winter. The economy has me on edge for the moment.

Pura vida
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