Bruce Lion Gardiner

Bruce Lion Gardiner, of Copake Falls, passed away peacefully at home on March 10th. He was born in Ithaca, NY while his father was attending Cornell University, and grew up in Madison, NJ.

Bruce spent all of his summers with his family at the beloved Camp K20, in Harriman State Park in Tuxedo, New York.  He attended Wesleyan University, and married Melinda Ceva in 1967.

Bruce developed many skills.  In his early adult life, he was the publisher at Tao Books and editor of the magazine, The Order of the Universe, both of Boston, MA. He was a silver smith and jewelry maker.  His primary vocation became management consulting, first working with his father, Robert Lion Gardiner, as a member of Gardiner Associates, then with The Task Group, which he founded with his partner, Jamie Weiss.  He also worked for Kepner-Tregoe for quite a few years. He took great pride and delight in his work during his last decade at Guido’s Market Place and always had a story to share about the store.

Bruce was a life-long student of spiritual practices from Zen Buddhism to Christianity and was always surrounded by a pile of books on these topics. He was a teacher of Centering Prayer and the Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach in the Capital District.

He loved his church community with all his heart; in his four decades of involvement there he served and lead in many ways. He was very proud of his work bringing contemplatives and social activists together in 2000s in events he called “Encampments,” and he threw himself into every fundraising opportunity and community building event with great enthusiasm. Throughout his life he found great joy in mentoring younger people in their projects and passions. 

Bruce was well known for his unique sense of humor, and he never could pass up an opportunity to make a pun. Bruce was also an avid gardener and cook.

He is survived by his wife, Melinda (Ceva) Gardiner, their four children and their spouses: David Gardiner (Brittany), Anna Gardiner Siepmann (Michael), Christian Gardiner (Kari), and Benjamin Gardiner (Jennifer); his sister Louise Dietz (James) and brother Steven Gardiner (Nancy), as well as his nine grandchildren who he dearly loved.

Friends and family are invited to join the family for his funeral on Saturday, March 18th, at 10am followed by a reception to celebrate his life at Our Lady of Hope, 8074 Route 22, Copake Falls, NY 12517. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Hope, “Bruce Gardiner Summer Supper Fund.” (Address above) and Community Hospice.

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