James Michael “Jay” Guarino, age 48, passed on to be with our Heavenly Father on July 20, 2009, following a courageous battle with prostate cancer.
Jay was born on August 30, 1960, in Orange, NJ. Until the age of six, he was raised in Newark and East Orange, NJ, then he and his family moved to Shark River Hills (Neptune) NJ.
Jay and his family joined Shark River Beach and Yacht Club in 1967. It was not long after joining the club that Jay began water skiing. In his first year of competitive water skiing, he medaled in all his events at the NJ State Championship Tournament. Later that year he did as well in the Eastern Regional, held in upstate NY. Jay graduated from Neptune Sr. High School, where he was on the wrestling and swim teams. In 1985, he moved to Orlando, FL and attended Valencia Community College and University of Central Florida. Jay was a member of the UCF ski team.
On June 25, 1988, he was united in marriage to Elaine Gardner of Roane County, TN. Jay and Elaine lived in Orlando, FL until 1994 when they moved to Atlanta, GA. Their son, Dylan, was born in 1997. In 1999, Jay became the President of the Atlanta Water Ski Club (AWSC) and in 2008 he became the President of the Georgia Water Ski Federation. During his time as the President of AWSC, Jay worked hard to build good relationships with the local community, including hosting several tournaments with the City of Acworth, GA. As president of the GWSF, he continued the previous president
Lynn Bryant, RN
It was an honor to help take care of Jay while he was in the hospital. Your family remains in my thoughts and prayers.