James Arthur GARDINER

James Arthur Gardiner (October 25, 1930 - April 19, 2016)

A kind man with a warm smile and a big heart, James Arthur Gardiner, son of William and Eleanor Gardiner, passed away at home on April 19, 2016. "Jim," as family and friends knew him, was a resident of Seattle from the early 1960s. He was a true Renaissance man. He loved to learn. He loved to teach. He especially enjoyed sharing his love and accomplishment in rowing and art.
Jim was raised in Detroit, Michigan and attended Denby High School and then Wayne State University. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree with a minor in geology in 1959.
As a young man, Jim worked many jobs in the Detroit area including summers spent as a farm hand and, after college, working in the design center at General Motors in Detroit, MI.
In his early 20's Jim was a summer lifeguard on Lake Erie. He was recruited by friends, and began his rowing career at the Detroit Boat Club. Jim immersed himself in the sport of rowing and as a result of hard work and perseverance, competed and won a gold medal at the 1955 Pan American Games. He then went on to compete and win the Silver Medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Both medals were accomplished with his double sculls partner Pat Costello.
Moving from Detroit to Seattle in 1963, Jim first worked as a geologist for Shannon Wilson. He met his first wife, Judy Helgeson, (also from Detroit, Michigan), when interviewing for a part-time job at Boeing.

Jim and Judy were married in 1965, and found their dream home in Seattle's Washington Park neighborhood, where they started their family-eventually raising three daughters-Kristin, Katie and Kerry. Jim worked full-time at Highline Community College beginning in the mid-1960s.
Jim was known for putting the time and footwork into getting both rowing and art programs off the ground. In the late 1960s we was instrumental in starting Men's Crew at Seattle University and was assistant manager of the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team for the 1968 games.
Always ready for learning and adventure, he and his family took the opportunity for a 1-year work exchange position in the mid-1970s in Shrewsbury, England.
Jim and his three daughters survived the loss of wife and mother, Judy, who passed away in December 1979. Jim then assumed the primary responsibility of raising his three pre-teen daughters. He was a steadfast and loving father-the "rock" that his daughters needed. He continued to guide and care for them including encouraging curiosity and enjoyment of life. They all remember fondly summer trips across the United States and Canada in their Volkswagen van.
After his daughters were grown, Jim married his second wife, Paula. He lost Paula to cancer after a full life together enjoying the simple pleasures of everyday life, as well as memorable European trips in which they immersed themselves in the art and culture of the U.K. and Italy.
As an artist, Jim's preferred mediums were sculpting, including metal and glass casting and photography. He was always actively creating and learning as an artist and he passed this passion and drive on to his students and his daughters. A colleague of Jim's described him as being inspired by and "very supportive of young artists." He took on the role of director of the Art Department at Highline Community College in the final ten years of his working career, retiring at 78.
Jim spent the last seven years of his life primarily in the company of his three daughters and longtime friend, Grace. He bravely and courageously lived his life with a light heart and good humor despite his struggle with the physical aspects of Parkinson's disease.
Jim is survived by his three daughters, four grandchildren, his sister Pat's daughter and two sons, as well as extended family in Michigan and Canada. He is greatly missed and will always be remembered as a source of encouragement, unconditional love, and good humor by his family and dear friends.

The memorial service will be in Seattle on Sunday October 30th from 1:00-4:00 and interested parties should contact me, Katie Welsh at (206) 723-6390 or katalyst10@gmail.com.