In Memoriam
Gary Allan Lewis, CRM, CDIA +

ARMA, International mourns the death of Gary Allan Lewis, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.).
Gary died suddenly at his home in Springfield, Virginia on April 23, 2009, after a long struggle with cancer. Following a private family service Gary's ashes were spread in his perennial garden at the family’s vacation/retirement home at Bayse, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley.  Gary was born in Missouri on July 4, 1946, a true patriot.
  
Gary was an active member of the RIM profession, ARMA, ICRM, and the AIEF. Contributions in his memory to the AIEF will be gratefully accepted.
Gary was a Past President of the Northern Virginia Chapter of ARMA, an active member of the Mid-Atlantic Region of ARMA, editor of the ICRM Newsletter, and Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees at ARMA International Educational Foundation (AIEF).

Gary's public professional profile is available at http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/a06/304 .

Photo Gallery (Additions welcome)

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to his widow:

Mrs. Laurie Lewis
PO Box 630
Bayse, VA 22810

The following expressions of sympathy were received following the announcement of his death and will be sent to Mrs. Lewis.

Very sorry to hear about Gary. A great loss. Our prayers are with his family.
John Frost, President, ARMA International

This is so sad. I did not realize he was still ill.  I thought he had beaten this. 

Denise Pickett, Manager, Mid-Atlantic Region, ARMA International
 

I am so sorry to hear about Gary.  My heart goes out to his family.  

I will keep them in my prayers.

Tammy Wheeler, Treasurer, Mid-Atlantic Region, ARMA International

Gary was truly a nice man.  When I became involved in ARMA several years ago, Gary
was one of the first people who really welcomed me into the organization.  He was always friendly and a great resource for ARMA matters. I looked forward to seeing him at conferences or when I would attend a NOVA ARMA meeting.  He really will be missed.

Chris Koch, Coordinator, Mid-Atlantic Region, ARMA International

I first met Gary at Armstrong Data Systems when I worked on the USEPA records management contract after retiring from CIA.  He was a big help to a former “Govie” learning the ropes of being a contractor.  I was very pleased when Gary joined the NOVA Chapter of ARMA and later became President.  He introduced us to strategic planning, which won us honorable mention as the Large Chapter of the Year at the ARMA annual awards.  He went on to set the pace for all of us in the ICRM and the AIEF.  It was Gary’s drive that led the Mid-Atlantic Region to offer an East Coast CRM Examination Preparation Workshop, which is now in its fourth year.  Gary was a private and stoic person and few, if any, of us knew the extent of his battle with cancer.  I am saddened that Gary’s life was cut short before he had the chance to realize his dream of kicking back with his wife, Laurie, in their mountain retirement home in the Shenandoah Valley.  May you rest in peace, dear friend.  You were an inspiration to us all.  Our prayers are with you and your family.

George D. Darnell, CRM.

President, Northern Virginia Chapter, ARMA International

This is sad news indeed!  I did not really know Gary but fleetingly through the Chapter.  He appears to be quite the vanguard in our professional.  You may know that he held the position at Lockheed prior to my coming abroad.  Seems his illness caused him to step down--and, as serendipity stepped in, I was hired.  We will all be saddened in the loss of such a fine professional who left well before his time.
Chris Olsen, CIA Retired, Lockheed Martin

George:  Thank you so much for sending this notification to me.  As you are aware, Gary had his inauguration to RIM at Armstrong Data System.  He and I worked together for the three years of that contract with USEPA.  Gary was a diligent and hard working executive at ADS.  He worked hard in learning the ins-and-outs of RIM and was a fast and great learner.  He helped pilot that contract to a successful conclusion and would probably have continued with it, except that EPA decided to give the contract to a Native American Organization.  It was after ADS that Gary went even more forcefully into RIM with his earning the CRM, etc.  I will always remember Gary and his work at ADS and how well he did it.  He had a great spirit and willingness to learn and lead.  I haven't seen Gary since the end of the contract with EPA, but have kept up with him through other means.  My sympathy goes to Laurie in her loss.
Manker R. Harris. CRM

Very sorry to hear about Gary’s passing.  I worked with him at EPA when I was there and he was the lead on the contract.  I enjoyed working with him.  He was a fine individual – an honest, caring person who did a very good job.  I saw him only infrequently after that.  I sensed there were health problems, but I’m sorry it came to this at a very early age these days.  Please pass on my condolences to his family.
Mike Miller, CRM, FBI Retired, Lockheed Martin

On a very personal note, my heart is very heavy since receiving George Darnell's E-Mail 
last evening that Gary Lewis (a great ARMA advocate, true professional and gentleman) 
passed away.  I hope you will all join me in honoring his memory with a donation to the 
ARMA International Education Foundation.

Christina Ayiotis, Esq., CRM

Group Counsel-- E-Discovery and Data Privacy, CSC

Gary Lewis was the single reason I became involved in ARMA. I will always be grateful for his kindness, leadership and generosity of spirit. He was the consummate professional and I am honored to have worked with him.

Anonymous contributor to AIEF

The Southern California Inland Empire ARMA Chapter would like to send our condolences to Gary Lewis family. In recognition of Gary's contribution and inspiration to ARMA, ICRM and AIEF our Chapter will dedicate $500.00 in his name to AIEF in June.  I would like to encourage others to do the same. These are the people who continue to drive and make ARMA a huge success.
Brandon L. Reeder
SCIE/ARMA, Chapter President