[1] Garside was born in Middletown, Connecticut and his studies at Cornell University were interrupted by America's entry into World War I.
Garside earned a bachelor's degree in history and politics at Princeton University before attending Cornell Law School, from which he graduated in 1923.
He was admitted to the New York State bar and practiced law at Choate, Larocque, and Mitchell, making partner in 1927.
He also helped mediate a violent strike at Bell Aircraft in Buffalo, New York in 1949.
Garside was a member of the State University board of trustees when he was tapped to assume the presidency of the SUNY System upon the resignation of his predecessor.