George F. Gardin

GEORGE F. GARDIN, age 76, of Bel Air, died in Upper Chesapeake Medical Center on July 30, 2004. Born in Hudson, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Francisco Fernandes and Marcelina Jardin.. The first generation of his family to be born in the United States, as the only son, he would walk 10 miles as a child with his father to grow tomatoes. He played ice hockey and football through high school and college. Recently he was inducted into the Hudson High School Football Hall of Fame in Massachusetts. A graduate of the University of Maine, he played jazz trombone in New England nightclubs to supplement his income in college. He served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard during WW II. In 1954 he moved to Harford County from Massachusetts. He retired from Aberdeen Proving Ground as a chemical engineer. He traveled across the country and overseas to present scientific research with other scientists. He was involved in APGFCU as a member of a committee that took over a nearly bankrupt APGFCU. He was a past president and an active member of the Elks Club in Havre de Grace. He enjoyed gardening, photography, and many visits to Atlantic City with family and friends.

Mr. Gardin is survived by his wife of 25 years, Roberta L. Elliott Gardin; three daughters, Jane G. Backert of Baltimore; Jean Arno of Corinna, Maine; Gardin B. Carroll of Havre de Grace; three step-daughters, Marcia Cullum of Aberdeen; Tammy Laubach of Bel Air; Michelle George of Havre de Grace; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.


Pallbearers will be: Lee Merrill, Tim Cullum, Tom Costanzi, Robert Tankersley, Paul Sibila, and Shaun Holmes.

Those who desire may contribute to American Heart Association, Maryland Affiliate, Inc., 415 N. Charles Street, P.O. Box 17025, Baltimore, Maryland 21203.