Dr. William (Bill) Garove, Jr. passed away on April 12, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. Bill is survived by his wife Lee Yount-Garove, children, Bobby (Cheryl) Garove, Susan Garove, and Shelly (Jeff) Kick. Stepdaughters Christina and Darcie Yount. Grandchildren Zach, Jake, Anna, Zane, Skyler, Vivienne, and Jackson, three great grandchildren and a sister, Judy.

He is preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Garove of Oakmont.

Bill surrounded himself with many animals during his lifetime who he rescued. He is missed dearly by Sophie, his beloved dog who remained by his side.

Bill was born in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, in 1940. He graduated Oakmont High and served as a hospital corpsman in the US Navy. After leaving the Navy, Bill earned his BS and MA at Slippery Rock University. His PhD was awarded by the University of Pittsburgh.

Along with teaching, Bill devoted much of his career to public speaking and traveled to 48 states and

Canada to conduct training and motivational speeches. He developed curriculum focused on management and leadership.

Bill's 50 year teaching career span from teaching elementary school and students with special needs in the Pittsburgh area to teaching college. After completing his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, he was recruited by the University of Alabama in Birmingham to teach higher education coursework and to provide training is disability management. Bill additionally taught courses at Birmingham Southern College. He developed and directed the Management Training Program (MTP) which was devoted to training human service and health care leaders. He continued to teach and train each week until he retired in 2020.

Bill had great compassion for people with developmental disabilities and mental illness. He advocated for their full inclusion and participation in work and society. Bill served as a national consultant in the 1970's and 1980's regarding the

closure of state institutions and the development of community-based options. Bill also served as a volunteer at Glenwood, an agency devoted to the care and treatment of individuals with autism. He further participated in AmeriCorps to help support individuals and families impacted by a disability.

Oakmont continued to be very special to Bill. His dream was to spend summers in Oakmont once he retired. He maintained a family home in Oakmont so he could continue to visit his beloved town and friends who he treasured.

A celebration of his life will take place on May 31, 2023 at the Burket-Truby funeral home located at 421 Allegheny Ave, Oakmont PA 15139. Visitation will be from 3-3:30 and a Blessing Service will follow at 3:30 pm.

His family requests that in lieu of flowers that anyone who wants to honor Bill's life send an honorarium to the Oakmont Historical Society P.O. Box 2, Oakmont PA 15139 or to Slippery Rock

University Foundation 104 Maltby Avenue, Suite 102, and Slippery Rock PA 16057.