Martin McGarry, Beverly Boxing Legend, Dies

CHICAGO, IL - Martin McGarry, a Chicago boxing legend who built a USA Boxing certified gym out of his Beverly garage, died Wednesday morning. He was 66.

McGarry, the founder of McGarry's Boxing Club in Beverly, had been battling familial amyloidosis, a hereditary disease. The same disease previously took the life of McGarry's mother, two brothers, uncle and first cousin.

"This morning we said goodbye to the best man we know," McGarry's son, Morgan, wrote on the Boxing Club's website on Wednesday. "My dad was my best friend and mentor. I will be forever grateful for the memories and times we shared together."

McGarry was born in Ireland, where he learned to box. He quickly became one of the South Side's best amateur boxers after moving to Chicago in 1969 and in 1996 established the McGarry's Boxing Club (a non-profit, community based training gym) in the garage of his Beverly home, where he trained Olympians and Golden Gloves champions among others.

"Martin McGarry's young life was rich with Ireland's history, and he imparted on us his own Irish traits of humor, modestly and love for family," Bill Figel, a longtime friend of McGarry's, said.

Chicago Revealed profiled the McGarry gym in a video posted on YouTube in 2009. McGarry opened the gym to all ages and levels of boxing experience. In recent days, Morgan McGarry took over its operation.

19th Ward Ald. Matt O'Shea called McGarry "a legend" in a tweet honoring his life Wednesday morning.

"This morning, our community lost a legend," O'Shea wrote. "Martin McGarry will always be remembered those that knew him as a loving, husband, father, grandfather and dear friend to many."

McGarry's family will serve as the honoree of the South Side Irish Parade on March 11 this year.

Visitation and funeral information has not been released as of Wednesday afternoon.

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