Perry L. Gardner (Journal)


My Father’s Private Journal (1988-1993): Introduction

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My Dad, Perry Lockwood Gardner, was born on October 6, 1920, in Troy, New York, and died of prostate cancer on November 9, 1994, at his home in Dix Hills, New York, surrounded by his children.

(He did not live long enough that day to learn the results of the 1994 elections, which would have distressed him, due to his liberal bent.)

My father was an aeronautical/ aerospace engineer working for Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (pre-cursor of Northrop Grumman) for the majority of his career. He served as an instructor pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and finished his engineering degree through the G.I. bill from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

He was responsible for designing aircraft carrier landing gear for Grumman jets, he worked on the Echo II canister, and he performed configuration management for the Apollo Lunar Module that first put men on the Moon. He investigated energy conservation for space shuttles and government buildings.

When he retired, he turned his interests in many directions. He was active in the leadership of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington (UUFH) and supported many liberal causes. He built his own home by hand, beginning around 1950; shared his life with two wives, Pat (18 years) and Bonnie (31 years, I think); owned a 27-ft. sailboat called the “Aphrodite”; enjoyed his garden; and loved genealogical research, economics, and model-building.

I think of all of his accomplishments, he was most proud of his four children: P.J., Wendy, David, and Barbara.

The day I came across his personal journal was very meaningful to me. It captures so much of him and comes from his heart. I share it now with his family and future generations, as he wanted to do. It is my holiday gift to the people I love best.

I have added titles and done some minor editing, but the words are his. There are 42 entries in all.

Enjoy being with him and sharing his world as I have been able to do in publishing his words.

P.J. Gardner
Christmas 2009