Jack H. McGarvey, 80, of Rio Rico, Ariz., and formerly of Newtown, died July 15 in his beloved home, due to heart disease. He was born in Clearfield, Penn., as the youngest of six children of Violet Richards and Paul McGarvey.

As a young adult, Mr McGarvey first pursued a path to become a minister at Nyack College in New York. Over time, he became disheartened by the hypocrisy he observed among many Christians and changed paths.

Ultimately, Mr McGarvey graduated from Clarion State College and then the University of Connecticut, where he earned a graduate degree in education. A prolific writer, Mr McGarvey published hundreds of articles and essays about education, child development, computers, gardening, and travel, always trying to use the written word to educate and provoke.

As a middle school English teacher, Mr McGarvey pushed to integrate Apple computers into the curriculum as part of the creative writing process. Working with colleagues in the National Council of Teachers of English and the National Middle School Association, Mr McGarvey was active in the movement to professionalize middle school education as a separate and unique developmental stage. He was also active in the Connecticut Council of Teachers of English.

While living in Newtown in the 1980s and early 1990s, Mr McGarvey helped form a citizens' group to regulate development in the town.

After retiring from Coleytown Middle School in Westport, he moved to southern Arizona near the Mexican border. He taught himself Spanish and traveled to Mexico often. He continued to write and publish articles and essays, particularly about border issues.

Mr McGarvey adopted several rescue dogs and cats during his years in Arizona. During long, daily walks with his dogs in the valley near his home, he often met migrants who were making the journey to the United States on foot through the desert. Inspired by their stories and aware that they were only doing what his ancestors did when they came to the United States for a better life, he devoted many resources and much of his time to helping migrants over the next 20 years, independently and with the Green Valley Samaritans.

His daughter, Gillian McGarvey (NHS Class of 1989); son-in-law, Stephan Markowski; and two grandchildren, Ruby Markowski and Roman McGarvey, of Bristol, Vt; and his siblings, Marilyn Selfridge and Gerry McGarvey, survive him.

His siblings Joseph McGarvey, Dean McGarvey, and Duane McGarvey predeceased him.

Memorial donations can be made to the Santa Cruz Humane Society, 232 East Patagonia Highway, Nogales, AZ 85621; and to the Green Valley Samaritans, The Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 17750 South La Canada, Sahuarita AZ 85629 (write "Samaritan Fund" on the notation line).