Donald Warren Gardner Jr. "LD"

Donald Warren Gardner, Jr., known to nearly everyone as “LD,” passed away peacefully at his home in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 3, 2026, following a brief battle with cancer. He was 64 years old. His beloved wife and best friend, Melissa, was by his side.

Born September 7, 1962, in Washington, D.C., LD was the son of Mary Ellen Curtin and Donald Warren Gardner, Sr. He grew up in Annapolis and remained deeply connected to the city and the people who made it home. His childhood in Eastport was filled with good times, good friends, and memories made with the Brookland Club families and Colony Drive. He attended St. Mary’s School in Annapolis from kindergarten through 12th grade, establishing lifelong friendships and a deep-rooted love for his hometown.

LD’s love of horses began when he was young, sparked by time spent with his grandfather Papa Joe, his dad and Pip. That passion stayed with him throughout his life and led to his first job at the racetrack. It was an early glimpse of the many interests that would stay with him for decades.

After working for the General Assembly of Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services, LD found his true calling in the restaurant and bar business. For more than 30 years, he worked behind the bar at some of Annapolis and Eastport’s most popular pubs and restaurants, most recently at the Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern.

Those who knew LD understood that bartending was never simply a job to him. It was a way of life—and a way of connecting with people.

His regular customers became friends, and many sought out a seat at his bar simply for the pleasure of his company. LD had an incredible knowledge of history and sports, a sharp sense of humor, and an unmistakable ability to tell it like it was. He could talk with just about anyone, about just about anything, and he rarely left anyone wondering what he really thought.

Over the years, countless people came to know LD not simply as their bartender, but as someone who was part of their lives. He remembered people, remembered their stories, and made a place at the bar feel like home.

It was also through his work that LD met Melissa, the love of his life. What began as a connection grew into a partnership filled with love, laughter, friendship, travel, and adventure. They married in 2016 and built a life together that was rich in experiences and, most importantly, in the people they loved.

LD and Melissa loved to travel. They looked forward every year to their trips to Saratoga Springs, New York, where LD could indulge his love of the race track. They treasured family time in Nags Head, North Carolina, and made frequent trips to St. Pete Beach, Florida, one of their favorite places to spend time together and with friends. LD also enjoyed getting away to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for golf trips with the guys.

When he wasn't traveling, LD could often be found following his favorite sports teams. He was a passionate fan of Washington sports, including the Redskins, Nationals, and Capitals. Whether it was horses, sports, history, or simply the latest happenings around Annapolis, LD always had something to say—and usually said it with conviction.

But beneath the stories, opinions, humor, and larger-than-life personality was a man who cared deeply about his family and friends.

LD is survived by his wife, Melissa (née Jessie); his children, Jack, Joshua, and Josie; and his siblings, Andrew, Martin (Michelle), Michael, Melanie Marchi, Tara Stracke (Tony), and Marla George (David). He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Ellie, Charlie, Jaime, Patrick, and Molly.

He leaves behind a family who loved him, friends who treasured him, and a very large community of people who will feel his absence every time they walk into one of his old haunts and expect to see him behind the bar.

LD lived a full life—one filled with horses, sports, travel, family, friendship, good food and drink, strong opinions, and countless stories. He had a way of making an ordinary day memorable and of making the people around him feel like they belonged.

For those who knew and loved him, LD will always be remembered exactly as he was: loyal, funny, opinionated, generous, knowledgeable, fiercely himself, and impossible to forget.

He was, in every sense, an Eastport original.

And he will be missed dearly.

The family will receive friends at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home 147 Duke of Gloucester Street Annapolis, Maryland 21401 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 10:30 am in Saint John Neumann Catholic Church 620 N. Bestgate Road Annapolis, Maryland 21401.