Garvens remembered as true public servant

Even as city employees planned to attend his funeral Tuesday, they found it hard to fathom the loss of Alderman James A. Garvens, who died last week.

"His passing really has been difficult for people to handle," City Attorney Karen Flaherty said.

Garvens, 75, died Feb. 8 following knee replacement surgery.

He was the longest-serving of the city's current aldermen. Appointed to the Common Council in May, 1991, Garvens was elected in 1992 and, most recently, in 2010.

With his death, the city lost not only a passionate public servant but also a knowledgeable and thoughtful man who drew from his experiences in the private sector before joining municipal government, Mayor Steve Ponto said.

"Jim had a particularly valuable perspective because he had been a successful businessman," Ponto said.

Before Garvens retired, he worked as a division vice president with Globe Union and as a division president with Johnson Controls and Cambridge Electronics.

Well liked in City Hall

His experience made him invaluable on the city's finance and human resources committees and popular among city staff.

"He really was one of the most supportive aldermen of the employees," Flaherty said. "He showed people that he valued their work and realized the effort they put in."

Flaherty grew to know Garvens through his visits to City Hall, where the alderman would talk not only about municipal business, but also his children, grandchildren and riding the ATV trails near his family's lake house in northern Wisconsin.

"He was a very diverse man," Flaherty said. "I think people probably wouldn't realize it because he was quiet and thoughtful. He didn't talk a lot during meetings, but when he spoke his thoughts were well-reasoned. And he really was respected on the council."

Ponto agreed. The two sat near each other at council meetings when Ponto was an alderman - he represented the 4th District and Garvens the 3rd.

"When he held an opinion I respected it, gave it a great deal of weight," Ponto said. "I think he was a very conscientious citizen. He wanted to make a contribution to the community that he lived in for so long."

Honoring a colleague

The council will offer a resolution recognizing Garvens' contributions to the community during its next meeting. Employees also were considering donations to Brookfield Congregational United Church of Christ, where Garvens attended services, and the Rotary Club, which Garvens also served, including as a district governor.

"Jim Garvens really represented the best of public service. He served as an alderman to really benefit the city of Brookfield. It was true public service," Ponto said.

Garvens is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lorna, his children, Jim, Jon, Jay, Grant and Sandy, and his daughters-in-law, Angie, Marlo and Angela. He if further survived by his grandchildren Ben, Jake, Logan, Alex, Ian, Asher, Ella, Nadia and Anna.

District 3 seat

Due to Alderman James A. Garvens' sudden death, city officials now need to fill his post as representative of

Brookfield's 3rd District. Garvens' term was to expire in 2014.

The Legislative and Licensing Committee will take applications and recommend a replacement to the council, which will appoint a new alderman. That person would face re-election in 2013.