Following is the obituary for GARY D. COSGRAVE, submitted by his family.

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Gary D. Cosgrave, 82, of Westport, passed away peacefully on Dec. 16, 2024, in New Canaan.

Gary achieved remarkable business success in his lifetime. After his father passed, Gary took over a sleepy family business, PROGroup, Inc., and turned it into a conglomerate of five businesses: Pro Hardware, Garden Master, Farm Mart and an advertising agency and distribution business.

Gary was an active member of Vistage, a world-wide business advisor group. He sold his business in 2011 and continued to mentor business executives and entrepreneurs. He served on the board of Soluxe, Inc., parent company of Solomon Community Solar, LLC. 

A generous philanthropist, Gary served on the board of the Westport Country Playhouse and MoCA CT. In 2012, he was honored by the Westport Art Center for his success in stabilizing the group’s finances and developing a new strategic vision. He was a major donor to the Southport School, an independent day school for cerebrodiverse children and to Seeds for Peace and Operation Smile.

An accomplished sailor and scuba diver, Gary built an impressive portfolio of stunning underwater images that were sold and displayed widely. He co-authored “Stop, Think and Dream,” the fulfillment of a two-year project empowering New York City teenagers.

Gary is survived by his fiancé Dina Upton of Westport, his son Terry Cosgrave of Colorado Springs and four grandchildren, Michaela Patry, Lily Cosgrave and Isabell and Ella Rosenberg. He is preceded in death by his wife Ruby, his daughter Tracey and his brothers Jack and Victor.

There will be an interment of Gary’s ashes at his family plot at Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a celebration of his life at Rive Bistro in Westport from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made in Gary’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.