Douglas B. Gardner – Remembering the Victims of 9/11
Terry Trippany on Sep 11 2009 at 5:57 am | Filed under: Feature Article, True Americans, We Remember 9-11
Douglas B. Gardner was a family man who was taken away from his wife Jennifer and two young children, Michael and Julia after six short years of marriage. As a father and family man myself I became personally immersed in the tributes given to Mr. Gardener by his friends and family. All accounts tell the fond remembrance of a man who was truly driven to help those around him and be an inspiration to those he knew. He succeeded in doing so even though he was only afforded 39 short years in which to do it.
Doug’s memory lives on in numerous tributes and memorial funds that have been set up in his name.
Mr. Gardner served on the boards of several children’s charities that provide after-school activities in safe and supervised environments. He was an avid basketball player and supported organizations that centered on athletics and leadership. His wife Jennifer established the Douglas B. Gardner Foundation that carries on his spirit of helping youth. The foundation is dedicated to helping disadvantaged kids from the five boroughs of New York City.
As a graduate of Haverford College Mr. Gardner created lifetime friendships whose spirit is carried on today through the Douglas B. Gardner ‘83 Integrated Athletic Center that was opened in 2005. Doug’s best friend Howard W. Lutnick led the effort to carry on the tradition they formed as classmates in 1983. The Gardner Center is a memorial to three former Haverford College student-athlete alumni who died tragically on September 11, 2001 in New York City, Douglas B. Gardner (men’s basketball), Thomas B. Glasser (men’s track & field), and Calvin Gooding (men’s basketball).
Perhaps most stirring are the words of the family Mr. Gardner left behind. The following tribute from his wife Jennifer is one of many that tell us a little more about the hole left in the hearts by a man who touched many lives.
My beautiful Douglas. He was my gentle giant, my partner-in-crime, the source of my laughter, my biggest supporter, my hero and protector and the love of my life. After only six and a half years of marriage, we were still courting and romancing, still reveling in discovering new things about each other and still appreciating every moment spent together.
Doug loved his family above all. He adored his parents and wanted to honor them by doing well and doing it the right way. He maintained a close and special relationship with his sister Danielle. Our beautiful children, Michael (5) and Julia (3), were the payoff for all the hard work, the meaning behind Doug’s success, the outlet for his gentleness, kindness and patience. From the instant Doug walked in the door at night, my son and daughter were attached to his legs like barnacles. Games of hide and seek would start before he could take his wallet and change out of his pockets. Books were thrust into his hand for story time, with Julia under one large arm and Michael under the other. Doug was an earnest father – every weekend he’d routinely take the kids to a local diner for silver dollar pancakes and milk shakes. He introduced them to the great pleasure of lying prone on the couch to watch the latest Knick game or Tiger Woods golf tournament. For me, watching my six foot four husband carefully attempt to attach a bow to Julia’s hair or gently encourage Michael to ride a two-wheel bicycle were the epitome of what Doug was as a father. – Jennifer R. Gardner, Wife
Douglas Gardner is one of 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees who were killed on the morning of 9/11. In total 2,996 lives were lost and thousands of loved ones were left behind to carry on without their parents, partners, children, friends and soul mates. Cantor subsequently set up a relief fund in memory of those employees. This fund appropriately contributes all proceeds to relief efforts; all administrative costs are underwritten by Cantor Fitzgerald. (Note, the Cantor Families Memorial Site is currently off line. I contacted the company by e-mail and by phone. I hope the site will be back online soon).
Update: I received an email from the Cantor Relief Fund indicating that the Cantor Families site is back online. There were two particular messages on Doug’s memorial that I wanted to give special attention to. These following messages are from his young children.
Daddy:
I liked when we went to Reebok, and when we went there the cool thing I liked to do was play basketball with you. I liked when you helped me dunk. I liked watching you play basketball in Fire Island. You were number 10 last summer and number 33 when you won the championship.
I liked going to the “red restaurant” with you. I liked having silver dollar pancakes and milkshakes with you on Sundays. And I liked watching Cartoon Network with you there.
My daddy was one of the heroes. I feel sad Daddy’s not here. I love you Daddy forever and infinity. – Michael Gardner, Son, age 5
Dear Daddy,
I am sorry you died. I wish you were still alive. And I miss you very much. I loved you so much. I remember that you were big and you were so good at basketball. I really love you still.
Daddy, now I am six and I am in kindergarten at your old school. I really like animals, making frogs and doing artwork. And I like basketball too.
You are always my daddy. I love you. – Julia Gardner, Age 6, daughter
The simple words of Doug’s children epitomize the type of man he was. This is how he should be remembered.
This article was personally one of the most difficult and challenging articles I have ever written. It took me on an emotional journey that often left me unable to write; I had to simply walk away and collect myself out of sadness. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families of those who were left behind in the wake of this senseless attack on innocent Americans. We will never forget.
Douglas B. Gardner
We Will Never Forget – Faces of The Victims – Click Here to Enlarge
Other Webloggin Member Memorials
- William R. Ruth – Remembering the Victims of 9/11 by Big Dog
- Lt. Brian G. Ahearn – Remembering the Victims of 9/11 by Bookworm
- Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas – honored by Bookworm
- Jennifer Mazzotta – Remembering the Victims of 9/11
This memorial was originally published in September of 2006. It is our wish that the world never forgets those who were senselessly murdered on 9-11.
Haverford College, September 11, 2001, 9/11, Cantor Fitzgerald, Cantor Families Memorial, never forget, Douglas B. Gardner
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[...] Webloggin – Douglas B. Gardner [...]
[...] Re: Videos to focus your passion… I don’t mean to detract from the videos, but this thread has taken on the semblance of a memorial, so I’ll put this here. There is a project called The 2996 Project. The site is down today due to traffic, but check back and browse through it when you can. 2996 people died on 9-11 and The 2996 Project attempted to get 2996 bloggers to make a post on each victim to commemorate the 5th anniversary of that day. Here are some of them: Sparks From The Anvil – David Reed Gamboa-Brandhorst The Anchoress – Matthew David Garvey Katey’s Kafe – Joao Aguair Webloggin – Douglas B. Gardner StikNStein – Anthony Tempesta Rhymes With Right – Anthony “Tony” Karnes Plancks Constant – Terrence E Adderley GM’s Corner – Lt. Col. Jerry Dickerson Neo-Neocon – Glenn Wilkinson Discarded Lies – David Berray __________________ New to TG? Start here! EVE: Von Traeger [...]
Just a correction, it’s not Harvard but HAVERFORD COLLEGE.
Thank you Diane. I updated the article.
Kind Regards,
Terry Trippany
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