Gregory Alan Bardes

He was born on March 22, 1948, on Long Island, New York, to Charles and Marie Elias Bardes. Greg earned his Master of Public Administration from Long Island University and built an esteemed career as a human resources executive in business and the hospitality industry. After retiring in 2012, he and his wife Jean moved to Tampa to be closer to their daughters, Kristen and Karyn, and first grandchild, Mitchell.

Greg was clever and quick-witted with a weird and irreverent sense of humor. He loved unusual foods, burnt chocolate chip cookies, Edward Gorey, golf, Alfred Hitchcock movies, jazz music, and all animals (especially dogs). He possessed what could only be described as a supernatural ability to find sharks’ teeth. He never lost the spark of mischievousness he had as a child, often teasing his loved ones with pranks and horseplay. When Greg found something especially funny, he laughed until tears rolled down his face.

A Ruby Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League, Greg first discovered bridge in the late 1960s, took a long hiatus while building his career, and returned to the game after retirement.

Above all, Greg was fiercely devoted to his family—Jean, his loving wife of 54 years; his daughters, Kristen Bardes and Karyn Strait (married to Alex Strait); and his grandchildren, Mitchell Strait and Scout Bardes. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Charles Bardes.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Greg’s name to the Hospice Foundation of America, the Humane Society, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.