Herbert Gareiss, Jr., died Sunday, May 11, 2008 at the Arden Hill Campus of Orange Regional Medical Center following an eleven year battle with leukemia.

Mr. Gareiss was born in New York City on December 5, 1945 to Aurora Varvaro Gareiss and Herbert Gareiss.

He grew up in Douglaston, Long Island, where he developed a life long love of sailing.  Herbert was a graduate of Trinity Pawling School, Gettysburg College and Fairleigh Dickinson University.  After completing his education, he served as an officer in the United States Army.

Herbert began his career in finance with Marine Midland Bank in New York City,  In 1976 he and his family moved to Warwick, NY where he was an officer with the Empire National Bank/Bank of New York.  In 1980 he joined Warwick Valley Telephone Company, working in various executive positions, and eventually becoming President and CEO in 2005.  Mr. Gareiss retired in 2007, remaining a director of the company until his death.

Mr. Gareiss was a member and former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Orange County Community College, a past President and Director of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the New York State Telephone Association, and the financial secretary of the Sugar Loaf United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Jane; his daughter, Anne Lannutti and her husband Michael of Royersford, PA;  his two sons:  Todd Gareiss and his wife Kathleen of Manhattan and Wilmington, VT, and Peter Gareiss and his wife Carolyn of Rochester, NY;  one grandson, Gavin Lannutti.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Sugar Loaf United Methodist Church, PO Box 95, Sugar Loaf, NY 10981 or to The Warwick Historical Society Restoration Project, PO Box 353, Warwick, NY 10990.