David Stephens Gardner |
GARDNER, DAVID S., 55
GARDNER, DAVID S., 55, of East Montpelier, died peacefully in his home with his beloved wife by his side on September 26, following a brief battle with cancer. David was born on March 10, 1956, in Philadelphia, Pa., to John Berdan and Margaret Sydney (Stephens) Gardner. He graduated from Vermont Academy in Saxtons River in 1974, then went on to New England College in Henniker, N.H., and studied archaeology. He spent many years studying archaeology for numerous research teams and schools. He dug sites in Vermont, Virginia, Maryland and Yorkshire, England. After returning to the states, he worked at the Ritz-Carlton in Boston from 1982-1990, and decided he wanted to learn about the travel industry. He went on to Travel School of America in Boston, and worked for Uni-Globe for several years. He moved to the Vermont area in 1990-1991, and helped open a travel agency in South Burlington, known as Travel Network, and then worked for Child Travel Services in Colchester and St. Johnsbury for several years. He then moved to East Montpelier and was working for AAA Travel. He is survived by his wife, Sherona Gardner; a daughter, Elizabeth Sawvell of Arizona; his stepfather, Charles Humpstone of South Woodstock; a sister, Connie Jones of Rochester, N.Y.; and two brothers, Tom Gardner of Burlington and Alex Gardner of Concord, Mass. His passions were gardening and he was known as the "Mater Guy," reading, and he really loved his music and friends. When he was studying in Yorkshire, England, he worked and toured with the Grateful Dead, whom he really loved. He was always full of stories of his experiences. He was always there with a helping hand, and was a loyal and honest friend, husband and father. He will be greatly missed by all.