Garry M. Hinds

Garry Maximillian Hinds, of Roselle, Illinois, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2026, surrounded by family. He was born in Camden, New Jersey on April 4, 1946, and was raised in Miami, Florida.

After graduating from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Garry received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Miami, pursued graduate studies in meteorology at North Carolina State University, and earned a Master's in Meteorology from Saint Louis University.

Garry was honored to serve our country and joined the Air Force in 1968 while the Vietnam War was still raging. He was commissioned as a Captain and served as a meteorologist. He moved to various stateside bases and, among other duties, provided critical weather forecasts for the travel of President Nixon to and from the Florida White House in Key Biscayne, Florida.

After retiring from the service in 1975, Garry joined United Airlines where he became a highly respected and influential leader of the weather forecasting group. Starting as a staff meteorologist, he rose to become Chief Meteorologist and Weather Center Operations Manager. In this role, he directed United's response to all major weather events across the globe including snowstorms, hurricanes, typhoons, and even volcanic eruptions.

Garry was always passionate about meteorology. He had a special fascination for hurricanes and spent countless hours tracking and discussing the subject with family members.

Garry was a talented athlete in baseball and basketball and became a world-class bowler. He bowled five 300 games and two 800+ series in regulation tournaments. Garry relished the competition and the physical and mental challenge and loved the way that bowling brought him together with family and friends.

Garry was a devoted grandfather and patriarch who taught his family the true meaning of integrity, resilience, and the importance of family above all else. His 37 1/2 years of sobriety stood as a testament to his strength of character and inspired all who knew him.

Garry is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughter, Stacey and her husband Jim; his son, Chad and his wife Barbara; his stepson, Chet; his grandchildren, Adam, Christopher, and Ciana; his brother, David and his wife Brenda; and his sister-in-law Martha.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard, his mother, Lillian, his brother, Richard and his first wife, Patrice, the mother of his children.

Garry left this world as he lived in it — surrounded by the people he loved and who loved him in return.