Business Community Remembers Gardner Graves

Members of the Canton business community remembered the late Gardner Graves as an articulate, smart, good businessman and community supporter.

“He cared a lot about the community,” said Julius Fialkiewicz, Graves’ partner at Realty Works in Collinsville.

Colleagues said L. Gardner Graves Jr., who died last week at age 64, was a man of detail, thoroughness, conviction and generosity.

Graves and Fialkiewicz started Realty Works in 2000 after working together at RE/MAX Realty.

Realty Works realtor Matthew Schoenhardt said that when he joined the company, Graves was extremely generous with time and advice.

“He was very helpful in getting me started,” Schoenhardt said.

Graves, a Farmington resident, was also great at marketing and his activities naturally spilled over to the Canton Chamber of Commerce and, more recently, the New Hartford Business Council. He served as a director of both at various times and was involved in efforts such as the chamber golf tournament. In 2008, he was named Canton Business Person of the Year.

“He was a really bright guy,” said Phil Worley, Canton chamber executive director. “He had a skill to analyze situations and come up with good ideas and good solutions."

Around 2003, Graves helped the chamber become independent from the Greater Hartford alliance. He was also been involved in helping with the chamber golf tournament and Sam Collins Day.

Dr. Arnie Goldman, a veterinarian in town and past chamber president, described Graves as “serious and smart.”

“That what I remember about him,” Goldman said.

He also said Graves had a “high sense of morality,” stood up for what he felt was right and always followed through.

But Goldman said Graves was not really gruff as some thought. He was giving, helpful and knew how to laugh and add humor to a serious situation, Goldman said.

“He had a great sense of humor,” Goldman said.

See more on Graves  at the Vincent Funeral home Web site.