Gary Lawrence Giscombe of Sag Harbor Dies November 3

Gary Lawrence Giscombe of Sag Harbor died on November 3 in Sarasota, Florida. He was 77.

He was born on September 16, 1944, to the late LaSelve and Grace Giscombe in Harlem. Giscombe was the second of the three sons. He finished public school in New York. He graduated from Central State University in Ohio, where he pledged and was a life member of Omega Psi Phi. Later, he received an MBA in Finance from PACE University.

He met the love of his life, Bernice Leslie Stafford, and married in June 1974. To this union came two children, son Bryant and daughter Garian.

Giscombe achieved many professional accomplishments while maintaining a loving family life.

He was formally the chief financial officer for a number of not-for-profit organizations, included The YWCA of the City of New York and Amnesty International, USA. His responsibilities included management of finance, human resources, information technology, facilities and publications at various organizations. He has been a leader in socially responsible investing. His skills include major system project management, assessing and running disaster recovery tests, domestic and international financial audits, as well as SEC reporting.

Giscombe has been a member of the Board Audit Committee for the New York City Housing Authority and has chaired the audit committee for a life insurance company. He has taught accounting at Westchester Community College and lectured on fiscal management for numerous organizations. He was also a New York State CPA and a former Army Finance Officer having served at Ft. Knox and Vietnam.

He and his wife relocated to Sarasota in 2016, and immediately became active supporters of the West Coast Black Theatre Troup, members of the Light of the World International Church in Sarasota. He was currently serving as the 1st Vice President of Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The couple live in Bradenton, Florida, while maintaining a summer place in Sag Harbor.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Bernice; son Bryant (Kate); daughter Garian; grandson Tristan; brother Ronald Giscombe; brother-in-law Kenneth H. Stafford Sr.; sisters in-law, Gayle and Diane Stafford; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

Services were held on November 12 in Sarasota. He was interred at the Sarasota National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History Scholarship Program, honoring Gary Giscombe’s work in higher education and to continue his legacy. The donation may be sent to: Manasota ASALH, Inc., P.O. Box 2356, Sarasota, FL 34230.