Neighbors: Garry Faber

Sarasota native Garry Faber has worked in many different industries in many different capacities, but one thing remains consistent — throughout his life, Faber has devoted his time to helping people in any way he can. From his work as a deputy in the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office to his current job as a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, he says it’s all about serving the community.

“I just like being able to provide immediate help to people who need it,” Faber says. “Isn’t that why we’re here?”

Faber was born on Siesta Key, near Turtle Beach, and attended Riverview High School.

“I think I’m one of four baby boomers left who was born here,” he jokes. “But, it’s paradise here. Where else can you go that has all the amenities Sarasota has to offer?”

Faber served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1971, during Vietnam. Upon his return to his hometown, he worked as a deputy until 1978. He then went on to pursue other business ventures, including owning a lawn-and-pool-maintenance company and managing apartments. About that time, the U.S. Postal Service contacted him with the results of the qualifying test he took years earlier, when he returned from Vietnam.

“They told me my test scores were high enough that I should have been working for them for years,” says Faber, who scored 104 out of 100 on the test (veterans are awarded five extra points).

Faber worked his way into a management position, for which he served 19 years, but he eventually found that his higher position allowed him fewer opportunities to directly help others, and he began to miss working as a letter carrier. Postal Service regulations didn’t allow management-level employees to return to lower-level jobs, but after a brief hiatus from work and some petitioning, Faber was able to return to the position he loved.

Today, he enjoys the challenge of his Main Street route, which he says receives a high volume of mail compared to some of his previous routes. Above all, Faber is happy to be providing immediate help to his community. He enjoys the relationships he’s built with his customers, and he’s even been known to sing to them on their birthdays.

“I just enjoy conversing with the people — on or off the clock,” he says. “I love my job. I think the hardest part about it is knowing that it’s going to end someday.”