Jeffery Michael Giardina

Jeffery Michael (Kennedy) Giardina of Cypress, Texas passed away on September 3, 2024 at Houston Methodist Hospital after a two and a half year battle with cancer.
Jeff was born on January 16, 1970 to Barbara Krakar Kennedy and Joseph Larry Giardina in Joliet, Illinois. After Jeff graduated from Grandview High School in 1988 he went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps from 1990-1995. Jeff served at Camp Pendleton, CA and in Okinawa Japan. He worked with electro-optics, with a specialty in laser guidance systems. He left active duty with the rank of Sergeant, and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant while in the Marine Corps Reserve. After leaving the Marine Corps he studied Laser Technology at Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas.
After graduating from TSTC he went on to work at Compaq in Houston, Texas. Compaq later became Hewlett Packard and Jeff remained with the company until his death. At Compaq, Jeff was involved in the little-known research group working on holographic imaging and heads-up displays where he put his learnings in Laser Technology to use. From there, he joined the ProLiant mechanical engineering group (by then a part of HP) where he quickly became a respected expert in mechanical, thermal and vibrational engineering. He was a brilliant and creative problem solver and holds many patents in mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines. He designed, built and deployed modular datacenters all around the world, and most recently became an expert in the deployment and stabilization of large-scale High Performance and Artificial Intelligence computer systems. In between all those accomplishments, Jeff developed a reputation as someone always willing to help with whatever work needed to be done – on projects ranging from organizing labs, machining parts, configuring servers, all the way to chemical treatment of cooling water.
Jeff never met a person or a hobby that he didn't instantly connect with. He enjoyed shooting all types of weapons, was an accomplished auto mechanic, a self-taught CNC machinist, and dabbled in numerous other pastimes. He had an extensive network of friends from all walks of life. He was happy to engage in conversation with anyone he met, and frequently formed lasting relationships with people he met by chance. He was always willing to help out with any problem or project that needed a hand.
In 1990 Jeff met Nancy Tracey Starrett at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany Georgia where they were both attending classes for their Military Occupational Specialty. They married at their first duty station in Camp Pendleton on August 29, 1992. They had one beautiful daughter, Maeve Lynn Giardina.
Jeff was predeceased by his father Joseph Larry Giardina, his brother Mark Kennedy, his daughter Maeve Lynn Giardina, grandparents Carol Giardina and Joseph Giardina, and brother-in-law Billy Bob Slater.
He is survived by his wife Nancy Tracey Giardina, sisters Mikki Slater and Kimberly Roberson (husband Tom Roberson), brothers Evan Giardina (wife Danielle Giardina), and Todd Giardina, and nieces and nephews Romie Slater, Elijah Slater, Juniper Slater, Phoenix Slater, Cora Slater, Violet Slater, Ruby Joy Giardina, Lily June Giardina, and Daisy Jo Giardina.
Visitation will be held at Klein Funeral Home at 9719 Wortham Blvd. Houston, Texas 77065 on Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 3:00 pm -6:00 pm.