Friends and colleagues remember Bon Gardner `64

in Student Council, the
Christian Association, and the
Cum Laude Society, and he was
the Day Boys vice president.
Richard is survived by his
wife of 41 years, Virginia; son,
Randolph; daughter, Marcia;
and sister, Sandra.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mrs. Virginia Garvine, R.D. 1, Box 12, E. Haddam, CT
06423
DR. EDWARD R. STEVENS died on September
23, 2007. He was 68 years old.
Edward came to The Hill from West Portal,
N.J. While at The Hill, he
competed in fifths football,
golf, soccer, and wrestling.
Edward was a member of the
Outing Club, Glee Club,
Choir, Orchestra, Christian
Association, Science Club,
and Horsemanship Club.
1964
BONNELL T.C. GARDNER died suddenly on July
29, 2008 at his home in Wayne, Maine. Bon was a
member of Hill’s faculty from 1970 to 1985. He
was 62 years old.
During his time as a Hill student, Bon served
as editor-in-chief of Hill News and associate
editor of the Dial. He also was a member of the
Debating Club and the Speaking Club and he
played intramural soccer, golf, and basketball.
He later earned his B.A. from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1968, and his M.Ed. from Lehigh
University in 1976.
Bon joined The Hill faculty in 1970 as an
instructor of English. During his tenure at the
School, he was involved in many aspects of Hill
life. Bon served as an adviser to both the fourth
form and Record, and he coached junior soccer,
lacrosse, and the J.V. squash and track teams. He
also served as editor of the Bulletin, Hill’s
alumni magazine, and was the author of the
well-received feature “Notes from Underground.”
Bon also taught at Gould
Academy in Bethel. During his
time at Gould, Bon and his
wife, Jean, maintained
residences in Wayne, Bethel,
and Farmington. Bon was a
member of Delta Kappa
Epsilon fraternity, the Lake
Androscoggin Yacht Club, the Augusta Country
Club, and the Four Arts Library of Palm Beach.
Bon is survived by his wife, Jean, and many
nieces and nephews.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mrs. Jean Gardner, 188 Lincoln Point Road, Wayne,
ME 04284-3711
For more on Bon and his influence on friends,
family and The Hill School, please see the
following pages. g
Friends and colleagues remember Bon Gardner ’64
The best measure of any person’s life may be the individual’s positive
impact upon the lives of others. Below are excerpts from some of the letters
and e-mails received by The Hill and Jean Gardner after Bon’s passing in
July 2008. They are a fitting tribute to Bon Gardner and reflect his enduring
legacy—the unique and unforgettable ways he affected the lives of his
classmates, fellow teachers, and the many students he taught.
“He was as classically unique and genuinely funny as anyone I’ve ever met… He not only made
us all laugh but he seemed to have a way of tweaking the masters without their minding.
I guess he was so darn funny, they couldn’t help themselves.” – Bob Williams ’64
“Of course, some of the best remembrances of Mr. Gardner are his chapel talks… he once came
in dressed in a flowing robe, with a frog, and gave one of the most memorable talks. He spoke of
being ridiculous and defying convention… he defended them in context of the absurdity he saw in
the contemporary world of the late Seventies. The point was to be true to what you knew was right…
That talk so impressed us at the Dial Board that we dedicated the yearbook to him and printed the
whole talk. I have not read it in 28 years, but it still has an impression on me.” – Richard Hoff ’80
Bon Gardner puts his superior speaking skills to work
at the Hill Chapel in March 1972.
“In our fifth form year I had the honor, and the misfortune, of being one of the finalists in our
Extemporaneous Speaking competition. The misfortune was this: Bon Gardner was one of the other
finalists. Each of us had to stand before the entire school… and vaporize as best we could on a
subject handed to us just moments before going to the podium. I had to follow Bon, and by the end
of his first sentence I knew my goose was cooked. His subject: Hill School food. His opening: “If, as
they say, an army travels on its stomach, it won’t get far from here…” – Tobias Wolff ’64
g
THE HILL SCHOOL
75
teacher and the number one favorite of Hill
students. –Tom Chen ’64, fellow faculty member
Forest Dillon ’66 (left) and Bon Gardner (right) with dear
friend and mentor George Senter, faculty emeritus, at
George’s 90th birthday celebration held on April 12 at Le
Garage in Wiscasset, Maine.
g
“After graduating from The Hill nearly 30
years ago, I still have many fond memories of
Mr. Gardner’s English classes. He could have
been the inspiration for Robin Williams’
performance in ‘Dead Poet’s Society,’ as he was
able to bring the books we read to life… He
made The Hill educational experience a
special one.” – Kent Davis ’79
“Houghton Hutcheson and I were cosports editors of The News. Bon, editor-in-chief,
was a delight to work with and let us run our
show without any interference. He will live on in
our hearts and minds.” – Steve Whelan ’64
“Both powerfully and comfortably
intellectual, academic, a very nice guy, influential
with both students and faculty, and a catalytic
member within The Hill School Family, these are
but some of the first words and phrases which
come to mind when one thinks of Bon Gardner…
Members of The Hill’s community are full of Bon
Gardner stories. He cannot be forgotten.” – Tom
Ruth, faculty emeritus
“Mr. Gardner helped me survive those
gray winter months in Pottstown with his sense
of humor. His chapel talks were brilliant; I wish I
had a video collection of them… He was not
only a humorist, but also a dedicated teacher. In
the classroom, he inspired a wide range of
ideas… I miss him and regret never getting to
tell him personally how much his teaching
meant to me.” –Scott Granowski ’79
“Bon told hilarious self-deprecating stories
about his academic performance. I believe that
he can take credit for helping many of us
graduate… Upon joining The Hill faculty in the
fall of ’70, I was overjoyed to discover that Bon
and Jean were starting then as well. I knew that
Bon would bring a smile to my face whenever I
was in his presence. Bon was a fantastic
76
IN REMEMBRANCE
“[Bon] and I first met at The Hill School
Camp in Wolfeboro, N.H., the summer before
his sixth form year, my third form year. Bon was
a counselor there, as I recall. He took me under
his wings to show me the ropes both at the
camp and later that year at Hill. I suspect that I
was not unique and Bon similarly helped out
every other new boy at camp. That is just the
type of guy he was. I truly will miss him.” – Tom
Millhiser ’67
“He was one of the few, maybe the only
[teacher] that first year, who threw me a lifeline.
While I was sinking fast in almost all my subjects,
Bon kept alive what little self-esteem I had…
With summer school I was able to turn things
around. Hill changed me forever, mostly for the
good. I owe that part of my life to Bon. I will
always remember him too for our knockdown
battles on the squash courts when he would
take a swing at my head when I wasn’t looking.
I would hear the whoosh go by and turn to see
his big grin. He never let me take life too
seriously.” – Geoff Liggett ’74
“Bon Gardner was one of nature’s
noblemen… [he] was my fourth form hall
master in the dorm above the dining hall… and
was in no small part responsible for my survival
that year. His friendship and counsel remained
a bulwark during the rest of my Hill School
career… He related to the boys and he related
to their issues, a very precious commodity in a
master at the time.” – Red Armour ’73
“Here is a recollection of mine about Bon
the Irrepressible… He appeared in an
extemporaneous speaking competition in
Memorial Hall... When his turn came, he
opened by doing a dead-on impression of the
then-headmaster, Ned Hall. It probably was a
gross violation of the rules of the competition
to have something like that already prepared,
but Bon was never overly concerned with rules.
He brought the house down, and even the
headmaster had to laugh.” – Bill Earle ’65
“When I think of Buzz Gardner, I think of
two things. His love for Mark Twain and his love
for the game of chicken while driving the
squash van… Time spent with Mr. Gardner was
a unique experience that would be great fun.
His English classes were just as engaging as his
infectious enthusiasm for American literature
made him one of the most popular teachers in
the school. He will be greatly missed.” – Bill
Walsh ’85
“Thank God for Bon Gardner, that’s all I can
say. Thank God. He was a courageous, clever,
compassionate man who knew what it was like
attend The Hill and what boys like us needed to
survive four or five years there… Buzz was truly
our connection with sanity… He rejoiced in our
development in the classroom, on the athletic fields
and in the world off campus, which he often brought
within reach… For me, part of Bon’s gleaming
legacy will be the great life lesson he taught us…
to keep your sense of humor no matter how
difficult the situation.” – John Summerlin ’74
“Bon was editor-in-chief of The Hill News
the year before I was. He presided over the
renaissance of that paper begun by James Kobak
the year before, and assembled one of the most
talented News boards I can remember — people
like Harry Shaw (also editor of The Record), Bill
Quick (feature), Tim Howell (managing editor),
Steve Whelan (news), Eric Spahr, and a guy
named Vargyas (sarc column) and a host of other
campus literary luminaries made his Board, in
my opinion, the finest one ever. Bon’s stamp on
The Hill was both enduring and unique. His great
heart was matched only by his dry wit… When I
succeeded Bon to the editor-in-chief post,
having been blessed with a board almost as
talented as his, ET commented to me: ‘You have
some big shoes to fill.’ I never did; I never tried.
There was only one Bon.” – Burt Kozloff ’65
“As a member of The Hill hockey team
from the early ’70s, we could always count on
Buzz showing up somewhere along the wall to
cheer us on, sporting some of the most unusual
headgear, and spirit, to be found anywhere.
Whether listening to him bring Catcher in the Rye
to life in the dungeon of Upper School in English
class, or just passing the time with him during
one of the many Hill events, his presence will be
sorely missed, but not forgotten, by anyone who
made his acquaintance.” – Roger Elliott ’76
“Buzz was by far my favorite teacher and
friend at The Hill. I never would have made it
through fourth form without him. He advised me
at a time of my life when I was listening to no
one. He turned me around and showed me that
you could have fun but be successful, too. I miss
him; I doubt I would be as successful today if it
wasn’t for Buzz.” – Howard Doc Stevens ’77
“I remembered him as a larger-than-life
figure at The Hill when I was a third former and
he was a sixth former [and] editor-in-chief of The
Hill News in 1963. He was definitely one of the
big men on campus. I will always remember him
for his great sense of humor and commitment to
the School.” – Tony Hom ’67
“I was not sure what to make of Bon
Gardner when I showed up on the hall down
from his apartment as a fourth former. I guess
I was a little traditional. He and Jean were
irreverent but loyal, fun but not over the top
(well...), and provided a glimpse into real
creativity and originality. I occasionally think of
[the] series of chapel talks Bon did that left us
in stitches and with sober lessons about life
and living it...” – Ben Bolte ’76
“His appearance at chapel dressed in
motley with a frog around his neck —
memorialized on pages 14 and 15 of the 1980
Dial — was a stunning and memorable
confirmation of the principles of excellence for
which our school stands. I have copied his
remarks from that day and a photo of his
outrageous appearance in costume and
circulated it widely over the years as a reminder
that, in his words: ‘We know that life can be
richer, more rewarding, that we can do more
with our lives and that we should help others
with our skills.’ ” – William C. Snyder ’80
“In 1971 The Hill appointed me as the
Head Coach of Lacrosse… though he knew
absolutely nothing about the sport… [Bon]
agreed to come on board and ‘coach’ the
defensive unit. His first task was a coach was
to demonstrate to the boys what is known as a
‘poke’ check. When I went over to see how
things were going, there was Bon holding on to
the head of the crosse and poking the boys with
the butt end of the stick. The boys thought it
was great fun… [but] to his great credit, and
after learning a lot about the sport, Bon was
our defensive coach for two state championship
finalist teams (’73 and ’84) and a semifinal
team in ’75… He was the funniest person Nancy
and I ever met, the most enjoyable person to be
around, and about as genuinely generous as
anyone could ever be.” – Harry Price, friend and
former Hill colleague
“Bon had a extraordinary personality
that mirrored some of the fictional characters
we studied in class. He was the living
embodiment of the Huckleberry Finn tradition
in American Literature, someone with one
seemingly conformist foot in society and one
rebellious foot outside of society. This gave
Bon a deeper understanding of how people
think and behave, which made his teaching
so effective and his friendship so meaningful…
Today I am a professional writer, a wittier
person, and a better friend because I had
the privilege of knowing Bon Gardner.” – Bill
McElhiney ’74
5
In Appreciation: A tribute to Bon Gardner
written by Tom Northrup ’64
From my first meeting Bon Gardner in 1962 until my last visit with him a few weeks before his
death, his epicenter never deviated, not even a little. I was fortunate that my friendship with
Bon did not end when we graduated from Hill. We roomed together at Penn, and maintained
frequent contact since. His amazing adventures grew tamer, but his robust humor, usually
self-effacing and never cruel, prevailed—even through his final difficult year. There is no one
I’ve known who knew more about so much, but who expressed his knowledge so modestly.
It is not surprising that Bon’s wife, Jean, and Hill’s website have been the recipient of many
eloquent tributes from his classmates, friends, and students. For the record, however, it is
important to add an epilogue to Bob Williams’ (our track captain) and Steve Whelan’s
recollections of Bon’s quest to run a sub-five minute mile in May of our senior year. While Bob
accurately recounts that Bon did not succeed in this effort, what he and others may not know
is that Bon did achieve this goal in his freshman year at Penn. I was there, as we trained
together on the track team.
And Steve Whelan’s remembrance of Athletic Director Dave Mercer rasping, as he watched Bon
plod along on his mile run, “What are you saving it for, Gardner? College?” was often recalled,
with fondness, by Bon in our conversations over the years. As it turned out, Mr. Mercer, a
beloved mentor for both of us and a Penn alumnus, was prescient.
For the last several summers, Bon and Jean have spent time with my wife and me in Lenox,
Mass.—days of wonderful talk and laughter, evenings of good dining, plays, and concerts.
This past summer was no different except that Bon was still suffering from the residual effects
of his fall from the outside staircase of his home in Maine in July 2007. He had lost his balance
carrying a box of books and the impact devastated his right leg. The numerous surgeries and
skin grafts had left him physically compromised.
On our last day together, we sat and talked on the outdoor balcony at his beloved Clark Museum
in Williamstown, Mass. Bon was in a wheelchair, as the amount of standing and walking
required was too taxing, but there was nothing frail or weakened in his conversation or spirit.
Despite his constant pain and his great difficulty in movement, his curiosity, enthusiasm, and
wry humor were undiminished—the qualities that were so quintessential Bon.
We ranged over the usual topics—our days at Hill, art, education, sports, and politics. But
what I remember most was Bon’s telling me about a chapel talk he had given as a teacher in
which he spoke about all of the unsung heroes at Hill—those who fed us, cleaned up after us,
kept us going—and how they did their job and lived their lives with such integrity —and how
little we noticed or appreciated them as students.
Listening to him, I was struck, not only by his compassion, which was always in evidence, but
also by his courage and optimism. In our last five days together, he never complained about
his health or the very serious challenges that he well knew he would continue to face.
Bon became a honorary member of the Northrup family (Don ’38, Frank ’67, Tim ’72, and Chris
‘81) when he spent a week with us in Parkersburg, W.Va. in the summer of 1963. My parents,
my brothers, and my wife and two sons also came to know and love Bon and Jean. All of us
carry memories of his inimitable humor, lightness, grace, and generous spirit. My life has been
filled with many teachers of great human qualities. Bon was one of the most remarkable, and
his influence on me — and I know on the lives of many others—has been profound.
5
Tom Northrup is the Headmaster at The Hill School in Middleburg, Va. He is a dear friend
of Bon and Jean Gardner.