Robert Gardner

February 21,1929 - April 3, 2017

BREWSTER -- Beloved by his family, Bob died peacefully at home after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Redding, CT and after attending public schools in Redding and Danbury, he received a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1951, an M.A. from Trinity College in 1957, and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Wesleyan in 1963. From 1957-1979 he was granted National Science Foundation and Department of Energy stipends for summer study at Wesleyan University, Bowdoin College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Providence College. While on sabbatical in 1983-1984, he was a Klingenstein Fellow at Teachers College, Columbia University.

He taught science and coached football and baseball at Salisbury School from 1952-1989 and chaired the school's science department from 1959-1989. He also served as the Salisbury Summer School's Director of Admissions from 1976-87. The physics lab at the school bears his name as does an annually awarded athletic medal.

While on leave from the school, he worked as a staff developer at the Education Development Center's Elementary Science Study (ESS) and the Physical Science Group (PSG). While there, he was involved in the development and writing of ESS science units and the development, writing, and pilot teaching of Introduction to Physical Science and Physical Science II.

After retiring from teaching in 1989, he and his wife, Natalie, moved to Cape Cod where he pursued a second career as an author of science books for children of all ages. During his life, he wrote or co-authored over 200 books. In 2010 he received a lifetime achievement award for hands-on science writing.

Bob was an inveterate cyclist who spent many hours exploring Cape Cod's bike trails, and walking them in cold weather. He was well known for the many ways he volunteered: driving the Eastham COA's shopping van weekly; taking people to medical appointments for FISH and Roads to Recovery; serving on and presiding over various boards at the Eastham COA, Eastham Library, the Eastham Water Advisory Board and the Eastham Forum where he served as their newsletter editor for a number of years. In 2001 he was named "Senior Citizen of the Year" by Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands. In addition to all this, he was a great cook!

Bob kept in touch with many of his former students who often visited him. They all mentioned the important impact he had on their lives. This can be said of all who knew this kind, generous man whose wholesome laugh you could never mistake. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In addition to his loving wife, Patsy, he is survived by a son, John T. Gardner of Avon, CT and his wife Miriam; a daughter, Barbara G. Conklin of Plymouth, NH and her husband, Alfred; two sisters, Shirley Peknik of Redding, CT and Gladys McGuire of Edgewater, FL; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren, as well as several nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by Natalie, his wife of 50 years, in 2000.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held on Saturday, April 22 at 1pm at the Orleans United Methodist Church. All are welcome.

Memorial donations may be made to Hope Hospice, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601; the Friends of the Eastham Council on Aging, P.O. Box 1203, N. Eastham, MA 02651; or to Salisbury School, Salisbury, CT 06068.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com