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David J. Gardberg Mobile, AL QCWA # 12285 |
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David J. Gardberg, lifelong community and civic leader, died April 26, 2020 due to complications from Covid-19 in New York. He was 80 years old.
Devoted to his family, Mr. Gardberg served as President of Gardberg's Furniture and was active in numerous charitable organizations.
Friends and family dearly remember him as someone who always had a smile on his face and welcomed you into his home or his store. He would instantly strike up a conversation and made friends everywhere he went.
Mr. Gardberg was a long-time HAM radio operator with the call sign W4AMH. As an amateur radio operator he made friends around the world and provided emergency communications following natural disasters. In 1957 he recorded the sounds created by the newly launched Sputnik satellite and gave them to the US government. In the 1980s he provided communications between the crews of USCG Icebreakers and their families.
As a member of Springhill Avenue Temple, he served as President of the Temple Board as well as President of the Men's Club. He was a lifetime member of Hadassah. He served as President of Mobile Opera and the Mobile Home Furnishings Association. He was also a member of the Mobile Jaycees and Kiwanis International and involved with AIDS Alabama South.
One of his greatest joys was playing the role of Santa Claus for the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama. The Mobile native graduated from Murphy High School and Tulane University. He also served in the United States Air Force.
He was married to Susan Berson Gardberg for 38 years until her passing in 2000. After retirement Mr. Gardberg spent time in Colorado before moving to New York.
Mr. Gardberg was predeceased by his parents, Abraham and Janette Gardberg, and brother Manuel W. Gardberg.
He is survived by his two children, Naomi A. Gardberg (Suzanne Franchetti) of New York and John D. Gardberg (Denise) of Colorado; Jonathan Gardberg (Joy) of Texas; and five grandchildren, Abraham, Eva, and Helena Franchetti and Isaac and Benjamin Gardberg. He is also survived by many cousins and several adoring nieces and nephews.
Due to the current situation with coronavirus, graveside services will be private.
Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Gardberg's memory
to the Springhill Avenue Temple of Mobile, Alabama or the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama.
Published in Mobile Register and Baldwin County.