Terrell (Terry) Gardner

 

Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 01/02/2011

 

TERRELL (TERRY) GARDNER Humanist, family man, mathematician, peace activist, choral singer, cyclist. Born 22 September 1926, Cleveland, Ohio; died 22 December 2010, Toronto, after fifty years of skirmishes with cancer, and forty years outwitting a dementia finally diagnosed in 2003. Served in U.S. Navy, 1944-46. B.A., Philosophy and Education, Antioch College, 1950; M.A., Ph.D., Mathematics, Columbia University, 1959, 1964. Member, Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto, 1966-1991, who loved the simplicity, elegance, and beauty of abstract mathematics. Cofounder, Education Director, and one-time President, Science for Peace; Founder, Toronto branch of United Campuses against Nuclear War; Member Canadian Pugwash Group, Group of 78, Veterans against Nuclear Arms, environmental and humanitarian groups. His vision and insistent effort led to the establishment of the University of Toronto’s lectures, Chair, and undergraduate Programme in Peace Studies, and contributed to the development of Peace Studies curricula world-wide. Member, Boston Symphony Chorus under Leonard Bernstein in the memorial season for Serge Koussevitsky, Tanglewood, 1951; Member, Camerata Singers, New York, 1956-64; Charter Member, Toronto Chamber Society, 1968-88 (now Toronto Chamber Choir). Inspired bicycle mechanic, who commuted, shopped, and toured by fine tuned bicycle, cycling with his wife in Southern Ontario and Quebec, north-eastern United States, south central Austria, and repeatedly in southwest France and the Pyrenees. Pre-deceased by his brother and sister, Peter Carleton Gardner and Ann Gardner McConaughy, his first wife, Eleanor Gail Hollinger, and his daughter Susan. Survived by his sister, Fay Gardner Lawton, his wife, Constance Ruth Moore, daughters Molly and Kate, six grandchildren, and one greatgrandchild. The family are grateful to all staff at Christie Gardens for resilient, resourceful, and sensitive care, turning a stressful time into communal effort and mutual respect and love. A memorial service will be planned early in the New Year. Friends may make donations in his memory to a cause they favour, or to Science for Peace, The Nature Conservancy, ~ the Canadian Friends Service Committee, or project Ploughshares. Morley Bedford Funeral Services, Toronto, 416-489-8733.