from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — Gary Alan Warner, 52, died unexpectedly at his home in San Jose, Calif., Dec. 14, 2017.
He was the son of Donna (Provenzano) Warner and the late David Warner Jr.; nephew of James Samberg and the late Barbara (Provenzano) Samberg; as well as the grandson of Pat (Barbara) Provenzano. It was Mr. Provenzano who introduced pari-mutuel harness racing in western New York when he opened Batavia Downs in Batavia, N.Y., in 1941 and it became a family business.
Mr. Warner was born April 17, 1965, in the 10th Ward in Rochester, N.Y. He attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Grammar School, Cardinal Mooney High School, and Gannon University. He excelled in many sports including golf, basketball, and soccer.
His easy-going demeanor and quick wit made him popular with everyone he met. He was especially proud of his high school soccer team at Cardinal Mooney and recalls with pleasure the year they won the NYS championship.
He was the admissions director at Batavia Downs for many years where one of his favorite parts of the profession was greeting patrons, most of whom he knew by name.
After his tenure at Batavia Downs he moved to Palm Desert, Calif., in 1992 to pursue a career in the golf industry. It was there that he met his wife, Melissa. They were married in La Quinta, Calif., in the very room in which they met.
Mr. Warner became the Director of Corporate Tournaments at PGA West and he continued with that organization for many years before moving to San Jose, Calif., where Melissa was residing prior to their marriage. After moving to San Jose, he became Warehouse Manager at Williams-Sonoma in Los Gatos, Calif., and for more than 11 years he loved, and was loved, by his “work family.”
His passions included family, friends, the Pittsburgh Steelers and treasured summers in Thousand Island Park, N.Y.
He so enriched the life of his wife, Melissa, and was the devoted, proud father of Riley, and embraced and cherished his stepson, Grant Hendricks. He also left behind a tight family which includes his mom, Donna; sisters, Amy (Carl) Munding and Julie (Michael) Miller; and brothers, David J. III (Mary Beth) and Eric (Julia Poli). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.
There will be a memorial service held in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 20 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester, N.Y. on Feb. 17 at 10:30 a.m.