Henry Bardel

Longtime Staten Islander, retired Parks Department supervisor, Army veteran, family man, Henry Bardel passed away on January 20, 2023. He was eighty years old. He was a very proud father and grandfather. Born in Manhattan to Nancy (nee Sardone) and Gustave Bardel, he moved to the Island with his parents at age 2, living over the years in South Beach, Grant City, New Dorp, Oakwood, and Eltingville. As an industrious young man, he worked hard and bought his first house at the age of 23. He served with honor in the US Army, where he drove tanks and won a sharpshooting competition. He loved having grown up on Staten Island, regaling his family and friends with stories about his colorful childhood, festivals and dons in South Beach, hunting and fishing in Fresh Kills before the landfill, among other things. As a high schooler, he and his friend Anthony Fiore considered themselves Beau Brummels, slicked their hair back in pompadours and ducktails, and went to school dances. Dancing would remain one of his favorite pastimes throughout his life. Henry's Italian side of the family ran a network of small businesses in South Beach, including his grandmother Francesca Sardone's dry goods store, LaRosa's Bakery, and Marrone's Hardware stores. His uncles Salvatore and Anthony Sardone were stevedores on the docks. His mother Nancy was a seamstress and his father Gustave worked as a diamond setter in Manhattan. Henry was very proud of his working-class Sicilian and French ancestry, especially his great-grandfather Gustave Mercier, who was a bohemian etcher from Greenwich Village. Henry worked for the NYC Parks Department for 34 years, getting involved in union activities as a rank-and-file member and shop steward. He often quoted Thomas Jefferson, saying "Democracy is eternal vigilance." He worked in parks across NYC and supervised Clove Lakes and Silver Lake Parks, Faber and Lyons Pools, and other locations. He wanted the workers he supervised to be productive, but also wanted them to be treated fairly. After retiring, he became active in local politics, running for city council and borough president of Staten Island on the Green Party ticket. He respected the writings of consumer advocate Ralph Nader and economist John Maynard Keynes. Henry realized his brand of politics was a hard sell in the borough but made it his mission to speak to people about the attainment of lasting peace, a single payer health care system, a clean and healthy environment, larger investments in education and jobs and a healthy economy. He is survived by his daughter Alyce Sparandero (Sean) and son Louis Bardel, grandchildren Dana, Rianna, Sean, Ciara, and Celena. Special mention should also be given to his ex-wife Eileen Bardel, with whom he remained civil for the purpose of raising their kids. In his final years, Henry touchingly considered Eileen his best friend. He regarded Victor Zucconi, whom he knew for almost sixty years, his "last good friend." Vic and Hank frequented the Art Students League of New York together. Lastly, special thanks must be paid to his aunt Lena (Sardone) and uncle Sam Sberna for their loving support of Henry when he was a teenager, and to his aunt Lillian (Sardone) Adoro who always had a warm plate of food ready for him to eat, even when he was grown. He always considered "Aunt Lilly" the best cook in the family. Viewing of the body will be on Sunday, January 29, from 3-7 p.m., at Azzara Funeral Home, 183 Sand Lane, Staten Island, NY, 10305. Church service will be at Holy Rosary Church on Monday, January 30, at 10:30 a.m., in Staten Island, NY, 10305. Mr. Henry Bardel will be laid to rest in Moravian Cemetery with his parents and his brothers Joseph and Louis. We all hope to joyfully see them again in the afterworld. Until then, as Henry would say, let's enjoy our lives the best we can.