William J Cardew

William J. Cardew (Bill) passed away peacefully on Saturday January 22, 2022, at the age of 95 at his home in Delray Beach, Florida. He was surrounded by his loving wife Janet (Markel) of nearly 28 years, his daughter Nancy (Garripoli) and his step-daughter Heather Markel. He was predeceased by his first wife, Alice Theresa (Peg) Moriarty and his sister, Elaine (Cardew) Evans.

Bill was born to William and Lillian (Davis) Cardew on July 20, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn, where in 1943 he graduated at the age of sixteen at the height of World War II. He needed a job, so through a friend, he secured a clerical job at The National City Bank of New York (the original name of what today is Citi Group). One month later, when Bill turned seventeen on July 20th, with his parent’s permission, he enlisted in the Navy. He was sworn in for active duty on September 11, 1943.

His mother, Lillian, had always encouraged him to ‘work hard and get good grades.’ Her dream for him was to become a doctor. So, after completing boot camp, he applied to the medical corps of the Navy and was accepted into Great Lakes Naval Hospital Corps School in Illinois.

In 1944, he was sent to the Japanese Island of Okinawa as a Medical Corpsman with the 1st Marine Division ahead of what would be the largest amphibious assault of World War II. He remained through August 1945 when actions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war.

He was then sent to China for eleven months, with the 1st Marine Division, to help rebuild their cities and towns from Japanese occupation. He returned home in 1946 and was discharged from the Navy, whereupon he joined the “52-20 Club”… or so he thought.

Within a week, Bill had received his first $20 check (52 weeks for G.I.’s) from the government. Needing it to be cashed, he went to the local bank in Woodhaven, NY where he lived. The bank manager, seeing he was a G.I., asked about his plans. Bill told him he had wanted to go to college but since it was too late in the year, he’d be looking for a job instead. The manager asked if he’d be interested in working there, so Bill began his banking career at the Bank of Manhattan the very next day.

Working all day, Bill went to the American Institute of Banking at night, completing three full years in about half that time. Bill married his fiancée Peg in March 1948 and in 1950 he was recalled into the Navy for two years when the Korean War broke out. During that time, he formulated his career plan.

He got himself into the management training program of Chemical Bank in 1955 and while working all day, put himself through college at night, earning his degree from Pace College (now University) in 1958.

Bill rose through the ranks at Chemical Bank to become Senior Vice President, running several major parts of the bank. In 1980, he left to assume the role of President of a subsidiary of Fidelity National Bank in Newark, New Jersey and Chief Lending Officer for the entire bank.

Yearning to return to the New York City banking scene, he initially accepted the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for The Merchants Bank of New York and eventually became Vice Chairman for Merchants Bank.

Along the way, Bill and Peg moved from Lindenhurst, NY to Ridgewood, New Jersey where they raised five children. Bill was very involved with youth sports, particularly the Ridgewood Baseball Association. During the summer of 1979, Bill and his friend, Al Miller, brought much excitement to the entire town when their Little League All-Star Team kept winning. Eventually they made it to the Little League World Series Tournament in Williamsport, PA the first time a team from Ridgewood had done so.

Bill loved golf and joined Ridgewood Country Club in 1977. He found time to play golf with his wife and their many friends and he became a Member Emeritus in 2016 when he turned 90. He was involved when the 1990 U.S. Senior Open, won by Lee Trevino, was played at RCC and again in 2001 when the Senior PGA Championship, won by Tom Watson, was played there.

One of Bill’s favorite things in life was to vacation on Cape Cod with his family and friends. Each August they would pack up the green Country Squire and head to West Harwich, MA for several weeks. Each morning they would trek down to the beach and set up camp, which included hauling down his beloved red and white Sunfish sailboat on which he’d give endless rides to anyone interested. Much fun was had on the beach and in the backyards, by Bill & Peg along with their friends, the McKennas, Lowes, O’Connors, O’Sheas, Millers, Filetis and Moellers.

Bill was an avid skier who made regular weekend trips to Hunter Mountain in the Catskills and Stratton Mountain in Vermont, where he was especially fond of Easter weekend there. He taught all his kids how to ski and dragged them and their friends all over New England. One memorable trip was to Stowe Mountain over a snowy and subsequently icy New Year’s weekend. Although he learned to ski in the East, he loved to ski out West, with trips to Vail, Aspen, Snowbird, Alta and Beaver Creek. Snowmass, may have been his favorite, and it was where he introduced us to one of the all-time great ski legends, Herman Ostermaier.

Bill married his second wife Janet in February 1994 and lived in Manhattan. When he retired from banking in 2002, he moved to Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach, Florida.

After retirement, Bill and Janet travelled extensively to such places as China, Australia, Cambodia, Israel and Russia, along with many European countries. At home, their schedules were chock full every morning to late at night; golf, working out, bridge, dinners, Broadway plays, entertaining and dancing . . .

Even with all of that, Bill managed to see a game or event for every one of his grandchildren each year. It didn’t matter if it was in Brunswick, Maine or Easton, PA or Spartanburg, SC, he’d “drag” Janet and they’d sit and watch the football, baseball, softball, wrestling, hockey, lacrosse or basketball game together. He made it a point to be at every graduation, be that Naval OCS, college, high school, middle school or even kindergarten. Bill somehow managed to call or text all 24 grand- and great grandchildren on a regular basis to stay involved with their lives. Not too many grandfathers can say that.

Bill is survived by his second wife, Janet Markel and a step-daughter Heather.

Bill is survived by his five children, Brian M. Cardew (Noel Jorgensen), Timothy M. Cardew (Whitney), Nancy M. Garripoli, Terence M. Cardew (Catherine) and Christopher M. Cardew (Melissa); eighteen grandchildren, Gregory M. Cardew (Cathryn) and Lauren M. Harris (Benjamin Harris); Reese V. Cardew, Connor D. Cardew (Amanda) and Griffin W. Cardew; Zinnia M. Garripoli, Kerrin G. Howell (Matthew Howell) and Timothy Garripoli (Cece); Matthew N. Cardew, Benjamin S. Cardew (Samantha), John M. Cardew, Charles V. Cardew, William M. Cardew and Catherine L. Cardew; Kelly A. Cardew, Allison K. Cardew, Lindsay Grace Cardew and Davis M. Cardew; and six great grandchildren, Cameron and Lea, Julia and Avery, Liliana and Charlie.

Bill is also survived by his brother-in-law, David Evans (Elaine), and nephews and nieces, Kim Lytle, David Evans, Tom Evans and Jane Wynn.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donations you may consider. (See below)