Alice McCarthy Gardner

Alice McCarthy Gardner, a woman of sharp intellect, deep commitment to community, and boundless kindness, passed away at the age of 97 at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She was the beloved wife of Frank William Gardner for 68 years.

Alice is survived by her loving children: Lydia Gardner Leeds, April Lee Gardner, and Ami Dickinson Cannon. She was a devoted grandmother to April Iris Gardner. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Frank William Gardner, and her son, Paul Brian Gardner. Born in the Bronx, New York, Alice was a lifelong scholar and pioneer in her academic pursuits.

Alice and her husband, Frank, shared some wonderful memories while at Union Theological Seminary from 1949 to 1951, where Frank was pursuing his studies. During their time there, she served as the Faculty Nursery School Director for the seminary, coincidentally teaching the son of the famed theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, widely credited for writing the Serenity Prayer. Alice also served as an Occupational Therapist and taught art and bridge.

She graduated in 1968 from the State University of New York College at Oneonta, where she was the first recipient of the college's new liberal arts degree, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Literature. Her remarkable intellectual gifts were recognized early, leading to nominations for both the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and the Danforth Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award, which enables outstanding scholars to prepare for college and university teaching positions. Alice had planned to prepare for her matriculation leading to a Ph.D. in English and American Literature, doing her graduate studies at Sage Graduate Center at Cornell University with intensive language preparation.

But her plans changed when Alice's husband received a call from the governing bodies of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and United Church of Christ to form an ecumenical church in southern Maryland. This resulted in the family moving to the Washington, D.C. and Maryland area.

Alice continued her educational journey while raising a family, receiving a Montgomery County Public Library fellowship in 1968 for graduate study in Library and Information Services at the University of Maryland. She earned her Master's in Library Science in 1972, while launching a distinguished career with the Montgomery County Public Library as a Reference Librarian, Assistant Regional Librarian, and the Book Catalog Editor in Technical Services. She expertly oversaw the complex transition of the library's print catalog to an online digital system. Alice was noted for her remarkable management talents, problem-solving skills, and photographic memory for names, numbers, words, and concepts.

Alice expressed her passion for change by serving as a volunteer throughout her life. Upon retiring in 1994, she volunteered for five years with the Montgomery County Public Schools system, doing research for administrators and teachers and assisting in the development of an online database of Student Service-Learning opportunities. Additionally, she volunteered for five years at the Strathmore Music Center in Rockville, Maryland, as an art docent.

As a resident at Asbury Methodist Village since 2005, Alice became a vibrant leader, organizing the Park View library, forming the Caring Neighbors' group, and serving on the Executive Committee of the Resident Council. She volunteered at the Williamsburg Clothes Closet, served on the Marketing PAC to welcome new residents, and was an active member of the Curriculum Committee of the Keese School. She welcomed potential residents as a member of the Park View resident council committee for the Benevolent Care Endowment campaign. On April 14, 2014, the Park View Council voted to proclaim that the Park View library Alice founded would henceforth be called the "Alice Gardner Library" and placed a plaque on the wall for all to see. This meant a lot to Alice.

Alice and Frank left Asbury in 2014 to live with their oldest daughter, Lydia, and their son-in-law, John, in the hope that Frank's recovery from a mild stroke would continue. Unfortunately, his prostate cancer returned after 22 years, and he passed away in August 2015. After the celebration of his life in 2015, Alice decided to return to Park View, where their life at Asbury had begun in 2005. She later transitioned to the Wilson Health Care Center in July of 2021.

Alice was an avid reader with a keen intellectual curiosity for music, poetry, and literature. She often spoke about the Circle of Love—the belief that coagulation is caring for the next generation, and it begins and ends with responsibility. Her core belief was simple but powerful: If you have a choice, always be kind. She encouraged others not to limit their possibilities, emphasizing that hope is the possibility of becoming. She believed that it is critical to connect with others.