Tyler James Garsik

Tyler James Garsik has finished his time with us here on Earth and reunited with his loving parents Penny and Warren. 

Tyler burst into his parent’s lives on March 21, 1986, a long hoped for and cherished blessing. From that day forward, he always made his presence known. 

As a curious, rambunctious child he delighted in exploring the natural world around him. His love of the outdoors flourished, and he could identify any tree or plant. He spent most of his childhood adventuring in the tree canopies around his home. 

As a 2004 Nashoba Regional High School graduate, Tyler may be best remembered for his intense gym class participation, busy social calendar and senior year mullet (that he never could quite explain to his sister). With kindness and compassion, he played the role of “big brother” to numerous students, helping them navigate the often-overwhelming teenage years. His sister was secretly very proud of her cool, popular older brother.

Tyler’s love of the outdoors led to degrees in Landscape Design and Arboriculture from the Stockbridge School at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He followed his passion by working for various tree companies, most recently at the wonderful New England Tree Masters in Boxborough. He was happiest amongst his work crew and would gladly talk for hours about the different jobs they were working on.

Tyler was the kindest and most caring brother, uncle and friend. He never let a birthday or anniversary pass without a loving message being shared, often to the point that people only realized it was a special day when they heard from him! 

There wasn’t a single person in need he didn’t stop to help or find a way to support. He felt the world deeply and approached it compassionately and was the definition of still waters running deep.

It is impossible to sum up this amazing and magical life that held so much. He will be much missed, cherished and celebrated by so many. In addition to numerous other family members, carrying on his legacy will be his sister Lindsey (Garsik) Styckiewicz, his brother-in-law Matthew Styckiewicz, and his niece Elliot and nephew Hugo. His wonderfully obscure mixture of a dog Lucy will be cared for and loved by his family. 

Please join us in celebrating his life by ordering your fries “extra crispy”, stopping to admire a truly beautiful tree or take a moment to send a thoughtful message to a friend on their special day. A celebration of life will be held in the spring. His family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation in his memory to the Sterling Animal Shelter would be most welcome. 

“See that falcon? Hear those white-throated sparrows? Smell that skunk? Well, the falcon takes the sky, the white-throated sparrow takes the low bushes, the skunk takes the earth...I take the woods.” Jean George, My Side of the Mountain

Rest in peace, brother. Your spirit will forever inhabit the forests you loved.