He is currently 88 years old. Pat, coined by many as the “first lady of drag racing,” stood firmly by her husband’s side, through the triumphs and glory to the ultimate of trials, before her sad passing on February 2nd following a long illness. It is believed the stroke was triggered by stress related to bad news he’d received regarding wife Pat, whose health has been in decline lately. She was 95. “He’s doing okay and has gotten most of his memory back,” said Francine Head, a Garlits assistant at the Museum. Enjoy the Ride. He is already on the road to recovery and back at work. Don's wife, Pat Garlits, his soul mate of 61 years who was the only person who could ever keep him under control, lost her battle with Alzheimer's in February of 2014. Garlits checked her into the hospital on Friday and was told by hospital officials she was unable to leave the hospital on Sunday. While on vacation in Florida last year, my wife and I made a stop at the Don Garlits Museum in Ocala, FL. Don Garlits, the greatest drag racer that the straight-line motorsport has ever known, never operated completely alone. Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing Words and photos by Bill Kloss . © Gannett Co., Inc. 2021. WELCOME TO THE MUSEUM. All rights reserved. Let’s discover his Biography, Net Worth, Age, Wife/Partner, Family, Affairs, Measurements, Achievements & Much More! Don Garlits was born on January 14, 1932 (age 89) in Tampa, Florida, United States. By Martha Maglone: Last month, February 2015, Don Garlits (83) popped the question to photographer Lisa Crigar, whom he met during a magazine interview in 2014. “My dear wife of nearly 61 years left this world this afternoon,” Don Garlits wrote in an email to the Daily Commercial on Sunday. “She has been suffering a lot these last few days and it was a blessing to see God take her into his care.”. Chuck prior to joining the museum was in law enforcement for 18 years. ESPN featured Don Garlits during the 2014 Gatornationals elimination show. The American race car driver has been alive for 32,494 days … Race Car Driver Born in Florida #7. We wish another 60 years of happiness to Don and Lisa. Pat suffered from Parkinson’s disease and dementia.In an email message sent Sunday evening, Don Garlits wrote, “My dear wife of nearly 61 years left this world this afternoon. “She was at dad’s side through every win, loss, crash, you name it, she was there.”. Dates of Capricorn are … He was a public supporter of Ron Paul's bid for the U.S. presidency in 2008. She died at the couple’s home in Ocala, Fla., near the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, the newspaper reported. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame is open every day from 9am-5pm.Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas. She was the girl of my dreams,” he said.He had just turned 20 and was driving a hot rod Ford and said Pat’s father “didn’t like my looks one bit.” Garlits was so taken with her, however, he traded his hot rod for a 1950 Ford with 10,000 miles on it, which made her daddy happy. Don Garlits Is A Member Of . Pat Garlits, the wife of “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, died Sunday at the home she shared with the man many refer to as the greatest drag racer of all time. It is believed the stroke was triggered by stress related to bad news he’d received regarding wife … “I took one look. January 14, 1932. Don Garlits and the couple’s two daughters, Donna Garlits and GayLyn Capitano, along with Pat Garlits’ sister Sharon Keppel and granddaughter Anna Capitano were all at Pat Garlits’ side when she passed away. Capitano, 54, is a concert pianist, owner of Capitano Music Studio and an adjunct professor of piano at the College of Central Florida.Donna said her mother was the “glue” that held the family together. Don Garlits, the 87-year-old drag racing legend, hoped to be the first racer to reach 200 mph in a battery-powered dragster. She would look at things in department store windows and sketch the designs and make patterns out of newspaper. Several names may cross one's mind when they think of drag racers, but one of the first would be "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. She was at dad’s side through every win, loss, crash, you name it, she was there,” Donna wrote.In addition to her husband and daughters, Pat Garlits is survived by an extended family that includes grandchildren Kirsten Capitano Watley, Rodney Donald Garlits, Sarah Lyn Smith, Benjamin Gregory Capitano and Anna Elizabeth Capitano; and great-grandchild Braden Alexander-James Garlits.A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2255 SE 38th St., Ocala, with a reception to follow. From countless Top Fuel triumphs, to crashes and breakage, to a clutch explosion that led him to reinvent the dragster, Big Daddy had his wife, Pat, by his side. That has sadly changed. Digital access or digital and print delivery. She was a big part of her community and such a giving spirit, ready to help any cause however she could.”And, apparently, the same fascination Don had with Pat was equal on her part.“She loved her man with all her heart, body and soul and never thought of anyone else but him. While on vacation in Florida last year, my wife and I made a stop at the Don Garlits Museum in Ocala, FL. I don’t know how she did it all. She was the forerunner of today’s super mom. She was the girl of my dreams,” he said. She was 79.The Garlits home is at the complex south of Ocala that houses the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. She has been suffering a lot these last few days and it was a blessing to see God take her into his care.”By phone Monday, Garlits said, “She was suffering so much at the end. On Saturday afternoon, drag racing legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits reset the world record for electric-powered (non-motorcycle) vehicles before a sizable crowd assembled at the Palm Beach International Raceway in south Florida. Brother of Don "Big Daddy" Garlits, NHRA Hall of Famer Ed Garlits was more than a force to be reckoned with on the track. Get the best deals on Don Garlits NHRA Original Autographed Items when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. She was just wonderful,” she added.Donna noted in a piece she wrote about her mother that Pat “lived an exciting life and saw the world. … Pat, coined by many as the “first lady of drag racing,” stood firmly by her husband’s side, through the triumphs and glory to the ultimate of trials, before her sad passing on February 2nd following a long illness. Ford Model t Roadster Hungary … Don Garlits ’ s zodiac sign Capricorn. Sorry, your blog can not share posts by email afternoon at Presbyterian... 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