1927-2008

Memorial services will be held Feb. 9 in Florida, and interment will be in June at the Atwill Memorial Columbarium at Northport Point, for longtime seasonal Leelanau County resident Stephen Vandegrift Gardner of Rhode Island and Florida who died Jan. 27 in Florida. He was 80.

He was born Sept. 18, 1927, in Middletown, Ohio, the son of Colin and Elinor Vandegrift Gardner. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Polly Harrision Gardner. His wife, Edith Bettle Gardner, survives.

He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and, after serving in the Army in Korea, graduated from Yale University in 1952. During his career he held leadership positions with Diamond International paper company, New York City; St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and Episcopal Academy school, Philadelphia; Coastal Bank of Georgia and Frederica Academy school, Brunswick, Ga., among others. His lifelong passion was the Episcopal Church, and he recently led a campaign to rebuild and expand the 100 year-old St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Boca Grande, Fla.

Also surviving are four sons, Lee (Candy) of Indianapolis, Steve Jr. (Margot Nacey) of Berthoud, Co., Timothy (Deborah Froeb) of Denver, Co.; and Dana of St. Simons Island, Ga.; seven grandchildren, eight step children and 16 step grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be directed to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 272, Boca Grande, FL 33921-0272; Atwill Memorial Chapel, 105 N. Northcott Dr., Northport, MI 49670, or a charity of one’s choice.