Cover photo for Gregory Jonathan Girard's Obituary
Gregory

Gregory Jonathan Girard

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

GREGORY JONATHAN GIRARD

Badge #1151

July 24, 1945 – November 7, 2021

Visitation/Viewing ———————————- December 1st, 10:00-10:30 AM St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church

Celebration of Life Service/Mass —————- December 1st, 10:30-11:30 AM St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church

Interment/Laid to rest —————————– December 2nd, 10:30-11:00 AM National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Arizona Trooper’s Association (835 W. Warner Rd Ste 101-466, Gilbert AZ  85233) or The Coalition of DPS Retirees

(PO Box 36398, Phoenix AZ 85067-6398)

Gregory Jonathan Girard was born in Yonkers, New York, the third and last son of Thomas P. Girard and Heléne Sabol Girard, who preceded him in death in 1996. A past Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Altar Boy, his early education was in Elmsford, New York. His first two years of high school were spent at Salesian High School in New Rochelle, New York. He then transferred to, and graduated from, Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford in 1963.

Gregg attended and graduated from Columbia College of Chiropractic in New York City, graduating in 1967 with a degree of Doctor of Chiropractic.

Immediately upon graduation from college, Gregg enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. His active duty lasted 2 years and 6 months, including a 13-month tour in Vietnam. He was the recipient of the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Achievement Medal with combat “v”, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, among other decorations. He also received a combat promotion to Sergeant.

Following military service, Gregg became a Vermont State Police Trooper from 1970 to 1972. He then relocated to Arizona, where he was an Arizona DPS (Highway Patrol) Trooper for 33 and a half years. He served the citizens of Arizona as a Trooper in Remote Duty assignments in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City. He was part of the first class of DPS Officer/Paramedics (third Statewide class of Paramedics overall) in 1975. He was assigned to the DPS Helicopter Air Rescue Unit from 1975 to 1990. Arizona DPS was the first State Police agency to have airborne helicopter Paramedics. During that period, he was credited with saving countless lives as an airborne Officer/Paramedic.

Gregg was promoted to Sergeant in 1990 and served as a Highway Patrol Squad Sergeant in the Phoenix Metro area and as an Administrative Sergeant at the DPS Headquarters until 2000. He was a proud and elite member of the DPS Honor Guard during his tenure. He finished his DPS career as the Operations Sergeant for the DPS Aviation Bureau at Sky Harbor Airport, retiring in June 2006.

Several notable events highlight Gregg’s career. He was a DPS Officer/Traffic Reporter for the Phoenix Radio Station KTAR for several years. He introduced the STOP STICK tire deflation devices to Arizona in 1995. Also in 1995, Gregg was one of the first Officer/Phlebotomists in the United States to draw blood for forensic purposes (DUI investigation).

He was a member of the Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Association, and a charter member of the Marine Corps Museum. He was also a member of the Associated Highway Patrolmen of Arizona/Arizona State Trooper Association, having served the longest tenure as Treasurer for that organization. He was also a member of the National Troopers Coalition, the American Troopers Association, Coalition of DPS Retirees, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include loving wife Colleen Marie Beaudrie Girard and daughter Meghan Marie Girard Bovard, son-in-law Justin Bovard, and grandson Jack Robert Bovard; from his first marriage to Audrey Main, Gregg leaves daughter Heather Christine Parr, son-in-law Christopher Parr and granddaughter Chloé Parr, of Murphysboro, Illinois, and son Michael Gregory Girard, daughter-in-law Dakota Girard and grandson Oliver Girard. He is also survived by a sister, Shelley Kathleen Pratt of Vermont, and brothers Thomas Peter Girard Jr. (Joan) of Maple Valley, Washington, and USAF LtCol (Ret.) Christopher Stephen Girard (Margaret) of Chester, New Hampshire.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gregory Jonathan Girard, please visit our flower store.

Guestbook

Visits: 30

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree