Jill was born in Nyack Hospital and raised in Northvale. Her father, Anthony D’Amico, was a baker who worked where Northvale Auto Parts stands today. Her mother, Mary, kept busy raising their eight children.

Jill came to Palisades in 1951 when she married John Garrison. John’s family had lived in Palisades for generations. John worked at Yonderhill Antiques for Tippy O’Neil. After serving in the military for a six-year tour of duty, he returned to Palisades to marry Jill and work at Yonderhill. Tippy offered the young couple the second floor of Yonderhill for their home. They stayed there until John was able to sell ten gold coins to purchase land and build their house on Closter Road next door to Tippy and his wife, Dr. Charlotte Munn. When Tippy died, Wayne bought his house and now lives there with wife Tracy and sons Henry, Charlie and Willy.

Yonderhill was the center of John and Jill’s life. Jill made and sold food during the lively auctions that were a major regular event in Palisades until about 1990. Even in their spare time John and Jill continued learning about antiques as they traveled the countryside looking for items for the auctions. Soon Loni, Jill’s sister, not only joined the staff at Yonderhill but also married John’s brother George. Loni and John continued to work at Yonderhill, running it after Tippy passed away until the building was sold. When their son Wayne was born, Jill devoted herself to being a mother. She read the New York Times to Wayne every night when he was baby, which resulted in his learning to read by age two! In her later years, Jill was an avid gardener raising prize-wining azaleas. More recently, she enjoyed being grandmother “Mimi” to her grandsons.

There are very few families in Palisades that have such deep roots here. Jill’s legacy is her son Wayne and now his and Tracey’s sons who continue the Garrison name and contribution to the fabric of Palisades life.