It is with great sadness the family of Gary Annett announces his passing after a long and difficult illness on Friday, October 13, 2017 at the age of 72 years. Gary will be forever remembered by his wife and best friend, Sue, and his son, Luke, and his extended family and precious friends.
A native of Rayland, Ohio, Gary was born to Emma and George Annett on December 9, 1944. He attended St. John’s High School, and Bowling Green University from which he graduated in 1967.
Gary continued his studies for his Masters Degree from WVU, and his doctorate from Nova University.
Gary spent his entire professional life in Education. He started as Athletic Director in Ohio, then Vice Principal at Lake Forest and Milford Middle Schools in De, and then became Principal of Milford Middle School for 25 years. It was in this role that he achieved numerous professional accolades and positions of honor, such as Burger King’s Principal of the Year, Governors’ Advisory Council for Chapter I, Superstars in Education Award, Executive Director of the Delaware Principals' Academy, and Delaware’s 1992 Principal of the Year, Gary finished up his professional career as Personnel Director for the Milford School District in 2009. He also was and adjunct professor for Wilmington University until his retirement in 2009. All in all, Gary devoted over 40 years to education. He believed deeply that all children should have the best education possible and ensured that under his direction that goal was achieved.
As a Rotarian for many years, Gary was awarded multiple Meritorious Service Awards, as well as the prestigious, Paul Harris Award. He was dedicated to the ideals of Rotary and served his community as its president and member.
Gary was passionate about football. He was truly an armchair referee. He could call the plays before the referees did and was never wrong. This talent was only upstaged by his uncanny ability to predict the weather regardless of the forecast. Even when there was a solid prediction of rain or snow, Gary would say, “Nope, they’re wrong. It’s not going to rain today.” Then he would explain why, and he was right. He could call school fog delays before the fog settled in.
Gary’s favorite pastime activities when he was younger were golfing and fishing. He caught a fish so large that he felt he could never do better and quit fishing. However, he continued to golf and would often go out on the course with his son, Luke, to teach him the fundamentals and nuances of the game. Later on, he enjoyed going out to dinner with his wife, reading historical novels, walking on the boardwalk, the casinos and any activity that he could be with Sue or Luke.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Annett, and his son Luke Annett.
Memorial Donations in Gary’s name can be made to Just Us, c/o Cathy Askew, 7 Croydon Rd., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, or St. Judes, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.