Virginia Beach, VA - JOHN HENRY GARRIS, JR. (John boy, Johnny, Big John) 77, passed away peacefully March 24, 2021 at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital after a courageous battle against septic shock (sepsis). John was born February 5, 1944 in Portsmouth, Virginia to John H. Garris and Denise Osmundson who predeceased him, as well as his much loved brother, Dennis Osmundson. He had two daughters, Michele and Jennifer Garris, from a previous marriage to the late Cheryl House Ward. Debbie Perry and Denyce Polins are his sisters. His nieces and nephews are Christy Cumbo, Brian Osmundson, Robert Hassell, Kathryn McCurdy and Anne Hoehn. John leaves behind a host of friends whose lives he touched-too many to name. John’s life and memory will be cherished by Patricia Hassell-Garris, his devoted wife and partner of 45 years.

Where do you start when a man was larger than life, the salt of the earth, a legend to many and the love of my life. John was a true Irishman with a big bark but a teddy bear at heart. John had many professions. He started early working in grocery stores, primarily in produce, learned upholstery repair at Sears, installed chain link fences, and worked for the railroad just to name a few. A 1963 graduate of Norview High School, he made many lasting friendships. Growing up he spent a lot of time in Ghent with his cousin, Buzzy Dorr (George), and lifelong friend, Larry Dozier with no shortage of mischief. Quite a bit of that time was spent at their great aunts’ Gina and Teesa. After high school, he became a merchant seaman, married and started a family. Soon after, he joined the Norfolk Fire Department. He and his mentor, John Phipps (a close firefighter family) had a cement company. He also built houses with another firefighter in Blackwater. John was never afraid of hard work and most times had up to three jobs. At one time, John was interested in antiques and restoration. In 1976 he sold his four- family apartment building in Ocean View where he and his cohorts lived and bought Butch Brantley’s Public Steak House with John George. They established the SECOND ALARM RESTAURANT (a tribute to his love of firefighting & museum to the same). With his love of food and cooking, (self taught), he prepared meals for many a hungry fire crew at the station, as well as cooking at the Alarm. His main cook and beloved friend, Isaiah Jackson, set out to create the best Prime Rib around and succeeded along with fresh seafood cuisine. In addition to his firefighter family, he developed a bond within the restaurant community and those friendships spanned more than Virginia Beach. There were more than one joint adventure with the Radognas, close friends from the THIRSTY CAMEL and Ocean View crowd. He was always willing to give a helping hand and the type of person to give you “the shirt off his back”. John didn’t hesitate to give someone a second chance and more. John was strong willed and not afraid to stand his ground and then move on. The SECOND ALARM was an independent restaurant on Shore Drive, West of the Lesner Bridge. There, another family was built by John, besides it being a family business, there were other families included in the crew. Soon after, customers who grew up coming to the restaurant joined the payroll. Several employees met their spouses at the Alarm. One could say it was a family love connection. We hosted Firefighter Retirement Parties, annual ski trips to Seven Spring and a party bus to Ocean View’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade. There are too many celebrations to mention. Tragedy struck and the Alarm suffered a devastating 2Alarm fire. It took a year to rebuild with the help of John Phipps, another legend. By this time, John’s stepfather, Wilber Osmundson, was his silent partner. Not long after reopening, John decided to retire from NFD. He eventually went back to sea cooking on tugboats and even worked on the oil recovery ship based in Norfolk. In addition to that he started and drove a limousine service with Kim Gregory. Fellow firefighter, Miller Mears, was one of our main drivers.

John never liked being alone which was evident in the brotherhood and camaraderie he shared with so many people throughout his life that was full of zest, tragedy and love. A love of people, a terrific storyteller, he was always coming up with comedic idioms. John boy had a great love for firefighting and fellow firefighters. This connection continued after his retirement. He was awarded “Firefighter of the Year”, for saving another firefighter in 1985.I was often told of John’s fearlessness. He was encouraged to study to become an officer, but he was content doing the job of fighting fires. Firefighters see a lot of sadness and are jolted out of sleep to serve their community and they have nightmares over it; they are courageous people with huge hearts.

Always having a love of the water and fishing, we would drive on the beach at Oregon Inlet in his CJ5 and surf fish for hours on end. At one point, he had a fleet of boats: a 26’ Sea Ox, a Chesapeake deadrise crab boat that dear NFD Billy and Gary Rafter helped crab, and a 40’ double tong clam boat-The Manatee, a venture with high school and NFD brother, Frank Phelps. John loved our labs and over the years was softened by a feral cat that adopted us and they were best friends who would have conversations every morning-Imagine that! We rescued another kitty who he adored. They became best buds and had their daily rituals. Before Cupid, we fostered and rescued our abused black lab. At first he was leery of men, loved women and a little wild and crazy; so much so, we named him after his brother only to wonder if we had reincarnated Oz.

Everyone knew John’s love for cars, from his first car, a 1950 Ford, to a hotrod Pops made him return, the man bought cars like regular oil changes. He eventually became a used car wholesaler, enter in a new family of friends. John was a people person and he welcomed strangers from all walks of life with a kind heart. Some, but not many, know he even went back to school for his CDL license and was Hazmat certified. He also worked as a butcher. After recovering from the fire, he had a garage built on the property that eventually became OPYC (penned by the late Sam Jones), his private pool room where he hosted mostly lifelong Norview and firefighter buddies-over the years more friends were included. After selling the Alarm business, it was a gathering place and even had our famous jukebox and the many records that employees and customers knew the words to and the numbers to push by heart. Ray Revell was great at keeping it in working order. John enjoyed going on cruises to the islands with family and friends and especially exploring Alaska. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention his love for Harley’s. The poker runs and Harley rider breakfasts at the Alarm were always a hit. We really enjoyed Bike Week in Daytona and Myrtle Beach. There was no shortage of hogs, choppers, and trikes with amazing custom designs. Dockside became another haunt with laughter and good times and with age and Covid, life changed somewhat with only outdoor lunches with friends. Many thanks to those who were able to visit and call to lift John’s spirits, Boy Roy, David, Don, Danny, Bill, Buddy, Alex, Whaley, Lucky, our family, Clara,Tany, Bryan, Bob, Donna, and their kids, so many of you know who you are and what you all meant to this wonderful one of a kind man we all loved. Thank you, John Murray, for assisting me with John for his appointments. I am so grateful for everyone who helped with and celebrated John boy’s 75th surprise birthday party. So glad we have that recent memory along with the multitude of SECOND ALARM HAPPY HOURS! As previously stated, “Our Loss is Heaven’s Gain”! One of the greatest feelings anyone can experience is to know that you are truly and deeply loved and I can honestly say that John gave that to me. See you on the other side.

For years John was very explicit with his wishes for when he left this earth. There will be a Commemorative Affair on May 4th, 2021 at Bucketheads Beach Grill formerly The Second Alarm Restaurant, 3657 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA If you plan to attend, please send your contact information to: Johnboy2Alarm@aol.com or reach out to me, Patsy. Again, thank you for all the kind words and beautiful cards, your support means the world to me.

John H. Garris, Jr. will be commemorated on:

Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 1:30 pm Bucketheads Beach Grill formerly known as The Second Alarm Restaurant, Virginia Beach, Virginia If you plan to attend and/or would like to share a short story in his honor, please respond to: Johnboy2Alarm@aol.com or to me, Patsy-757-672-1928.