by Hannah Engwall Elbialy
When you meet Sago Garrett, one of St. Patrick Senior Center’s Digital Navigators, it’s easy to see why so many members gravitate toward his computer station. Sago has a knack for helping others feel at ease with technology—a skill built on decades of experience and a lifelong passion for trying new things.
Originally from a “small country town in West Virginia—no stoplight, no music, no nothing,” as he puts it, Sago’s journey has taken him far from his rural roots. After a brief stint at Cornell University, he transferred to Howard University and later Michigan State University, where he studied economics and social science. His early career took him into the world of data communications, computer programming, and management at Chrysler. Later, he spent two decades consulting in Chicago before eventually moving to Detroit.
Now, in his role as a Digital Navigator at St. Pat’s, Sago helps seniors’ build confidence with computers and smartphones. Whether he’s walking someone through setting up an email account or showing them how to scan a QR code, he’s quick to see the impact of his work. “It’s so satisfying,” he says. “You can see the immediate smile as soon as you do what you need to do.”
Sago has been with St. Pat’s for more than two years, and he describes the center as a welcoming and lively place to spend time. “Everyone is friendly, engaging—it’s a nice social scene,” he says. When he’s not helping members with their tech questions, he enjoys many of the center’s activities and stays active with hobbies. He’s a fan of pickleball and has taken music classes in piano, clarinet, and theory through local programs.
Outside of St. Pat’s, Sago has a wide range of interests: cycling with the Wolverines Athletic Club, sailing with the American Sailing Institute, ballroom dancing, and serving as a trustee at Metropolitan United Methodist Church. He’s also an active concertgoer and a longtime supporter of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where he previously volunteered as an usher.
Through his work with the center and engagement with his community, Sago embodies the St. Pat’s spirit to keep learning, connecting, and giving back.