John Joseph Gardiner

John Joseph Gardiner, born into this world September 12, 1930, departed on October 30, 2022. The only child of Irish immigrants John (Ferban, County Offaly) and Margaret (Horan) Gardiner (Ballaghadreen, County Mayo) of Ardmore, PA. He attended St. Dennis Parish School, West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, La Salle University, and Villanova University.  He earned two Master's degrees, one in Education and one in Theology.  It was during his time at West Catholic that he was introduced to the Christian Brothers. These men made a deep, lasting impression on him, so much that he “heard the call” and joined the order after graduation in 1948, and was given the name Brother Gratian Joseph. The Brothers de la Salle were dedicated to education, which he did with honor and distinction at schools in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington D.C. until 1967. At that time, he heard another call to leave the order and start down a different path.

He met Carol Ann Ostrich at a mixer for single Catholics at the Mayflower Hotel in March of 1968 while teaching English at St. John’s Military College in Washington, DC. He started a campaign of “saturation dating” (his term) with Carol and they soon were seeing each other every week and falling in love. He proposed in September of 1968 and they were married in Johnstown, PA in December of 1968. He worked as a guidance counselor at Wheaton High School in Wheaton, MD and the young couple bought a house in Olney, MD. Their first child, John Francis, was born the following October, followed by Karen Marie, Kevin Michael, and Brian David over the next four and a half years.

John continued his career with Montgomery County Public Schools as a guidance counselor at Wheaton High School, Magruder High School, and Wood Junior High, before returning to Wheaton and retiring in 1995. He and Carol’s children began to have families of their own and he took on the role of doting grandfather, reading countless books to them, playing cards and checkers (many times allowing them to win through a liberal interpretation of the rules). His grandchildren loved spending time with Pop Pop.

John was a loving, caring man. He didn’t have much need for material things or wealth. He considered himself the richest man in the world with family and friends that were part of his life. John was a fantastic listener and a great advisor. His actions and deeds mirrored his philosophy on life exactly: have faith, be empathetic, humble, think before you speak, be kind and generous, give everyone the benefit of the doubt, show up and be prepared, there’s nothing wrong with being slow, steady, and consistent, and “sometimes it’s ok to do nothing.”  John touched countless lives, both professionally and personally. He had a terrific laugh and a quick smile. In the words of an old friend of his, “your dad didn’t have an enemy in the world.”

John and Carol were married for 53 years.  He is survived by his wife, Carol, their children, John Gardiner (Amy Gardiner), grandchildren Kara, Katie, Elizabeth; Karen Aasletten (Lance Aasletten)  grandchildren Grace, Aaron, Emily, Andrew; Kevin Gardiner; grandchildren Nolan, Brinley, Emden; Brian Gardiner, (Jennifer Gardiner), grandchildren Caitlyn, Patrick, as well as an extensive network of cousins in the greater Philadelphia area.

Visitation will begin 11am on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at St. Peter's Catholic Church - 2900 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832 - where the Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 12 noon.  Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD.