George C. Gardiner

George Clarke "Bud" Gardiner, Sr., MD, 86, died at MedStar Montgomery Hospital with his wife at his side. He was born in Bridgeport, CT on August 17, 1935, and was the younger son of William Orin Gardiner, Jr, DDS and Margaret Anne Clarke Gardiner. He was predeceased by his parents and by his older brother, William Orin Gardiner III. He grew up in Stratford, CT, resided in Philadelphia, PA for most of his adult life, and relocated to Collington Episcopal Life Care in Mitchellville, MD in 2017. Most recently, he was a resident of Ashby Ponds in Ashburn, VA. His first marriage, to Barbara Ruth Collins, with whom he had two children, ended in divorce. In 1976 he married Margarita (Rita) Hauser Calhoun.

Bud attended Nichols Elementary School in Stratford, Fairfield College Preparatory School, Bates College, and Tufts University School of Medicine. He received his post-graduate medical training at Boston City Hospital and at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Philadelphia. After practicing Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine in West Philadelphia, he turned his attention to public health, and served as Regional Health Administrator, US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1976, he undertook residency training in Adult Psychiatry at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he served as Chief Resident and subsequently joined the faculty. He was proudest of his accomplishments in recruiting, retaining, and mentoring medical students and residents who were members of minority groups under-represented in medicine. Most recently, he was a member of the medical staff of Community Behavioral Health in Philadelphia.

Bud was a gifted photographer, particularly of birds and other wildlife, and a skilled photo editor.He was a wise and loving father to George Clarke Gardiner, Jr (Mary), Leah C. Gardiner Gilliam (Seth), and Jason Calhoun (Michela), and a supportive uncle to Kathy Gardiner Tirado and William Orin Gardiner IV. He delighted in being "Grandpa" to Christopher and Saoirse Gardiner, Jonah Gilliam, and Jonathan and Jesse Calhoun, and "Gruncle" to Victoria and Austin Tirado. He also leaves to celebrate his life his aunt, Marie Clarke Torian, and many, many cousins. He will be sorely missed by his dogs, BJ and Karli.

Donations in his memory may be made to Planned Parenthood, The Innocence Project, your local Public Radio station, or any organization concerned with protecting voting rights.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George C. Gardiner, please visit our floral store.