Greg Garrett, a long-time industry leader and educator in the fields of swimming pool/spa plaster and chemistry, died suddenly in New York early Tuesday morning.
The passing of the integral volunteer, advocate and educator for the National Plasterers Council and other industry organizations has stunned and saddened countless peers and friends in the plastering, chemistry, service and standards-writing communities.
Garrett was a decades-long friend to Pool & Spa News, and we share in the grief and send our condolences to his family, friends and associates.
This year marked a half century since Garrett's entry in the industry. After serving in the military, he joined the Phoenix pool-construction sector in 1969. His time in construction included employment with pool-building powerhouse Shasta Pools. He transitioned into a plaster specialist, starting Applied Materials Technologies, which offered plastering, consulting and remedial services.
Garrett spent much of his career as one of the National Plasterers Council's most active volunteers and advocates. He played a key role in establishing and guiding the organization's National Pool Industry Research Center at California State Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo. On his own and with these organizations, Garrett performed research on etching deterioration, calcium nodules, discoloration and ways to preserve interior finishes.
He dedicated so much time fielding questions from professionals and consumers alike, that he was eventually hired by the organization part-time as director of technical services. He served in that position from 2015 to 2017. Most recently, he served on the NPC board of directors.
"The entire NPC family mourns the loss of this larger-than-life man who dedicated his career to the swimming pool industry, was a true industry unifier, and leaves behind a magnificent legacy," the organization said in a press release. "The NPC will continue to educate the industry ... but it won’t be the same without Greg. His unique style and personality pushed these issues to the forefront of the industry and it will be the honor of the NPC to carry on that legacy for the man we all called Mr. NPC."
Garrett also served on various technical committees for the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (now PHTA) and other organizations, weighing in on numerous industry standards.
His schedule was generously populated with instructing engagements. He was well- known for NPC's most popular course, which covers pool start-up procedures for preserving plaster and other cementitious interior pool/spa finishes. "Through research and testing, Greg was instrumental in the development of the National Plasterers Council’s Start-Up Certification program," the group said.
Last year, he ventured further into the educational realm when he partnered with industry chemistry expert Robert Lowry to form the Pool Chemistry Training Institute.
This is a breaking story, with further coverage to follow.
