11/13/1952 AD born
He grew up in the northern Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood.
His mother Shirley (née Horwitz; 1925–2016) was a director of volunteer services at Chicago's Council for Jewish Elderly (now called CJE SeniorLife). His father, Cyril Garland (1915–2000), headed Garland Advertising, a small business run out of the family home.
Garland was raised in Conservative Judaism, the family name having been changed from Garfinkel several generations earlier. His grandparents left the Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire in the early 20th century, fleeing antisemitic pogroms and seeking a better life for their children in the United States.
He is a second cousin of six-term Iowa Governor and former Ambassador to China Terry Branstad.
Garland attended Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois, where he was president of the student council, acted in theatrical productions, and was a member of the debate team. He graduated in 1970 as the class valedictorian.
Garland was also a Presidential Scholar and National Merit Scholar.
Lattitude: 41.8844° N
Longitude: 87.6324° W
Region: North America
Modern Day United States
