Eric W. Gardell's Obituary
Eric William Gardell, age 95, formerly of Wappinger Falls, New York, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026. He spent his last five years at the Edgewood retirement community in North Andover, MA near his son Steven.
Eric was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Janet; parents Eric B. and Madeline Gardell, and daughter-in-law, Lorraine Gardell. He will be greatly missed by his three sons, Steven and wife Cindy of Derry, NH; David and wife Deb of Fairfax, VT and Richard and wife Susan of Rockaway, NJ; his sister Nancy and brother-in-law John Larson of Palo Alto, CA; grandchildren Christopher (Jodie) Gardell, Paige Gardell, Elizabeth (Matthew) Knobloch, Levi (Açelya) Gardell and Eric (Anna) Gardell; great-grandchildren Marley, Jonathon and Charlie, and many other family and friends.
Eric was born in Brooklyn and spent his early years in the NY metropolitan area.
Eric moved several times within the State of New York as his Civil Engineer father worked at large engineering projects. After graduating Peru High School, Eric attended Union College for 2 years and then served as a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force during the Korean conflict. Since there were no civilian jet engine jobs to be had, he enrolled in the tool making apprentice program at GE. After getting his journeyman papers, he learned that they had no work for journeymen. His dad suggested taking the NYS civil service exam as a fallback. After acing the exam and finding nothing else, and with a wife and infant to support, he started at the NY state DOT (Department Of Transportation). He wound up spending 25 years at the DOT and settling in Wappingers Falls. He became licensed as a land surveyor and professional engineer (no small accomplishment without an engineering degree). While at the DOT, he started a part time surveying and engineering business with the family. The business became full-time when he retired from his DOT position as the manager of the Right of Way mapping department. Always interested in technology, he was an early and enthusiastic adopter of computer technology in the office and electronic surveying equipment in the field.
Eric instilled a strong work ethic and love for tinkering in his three sons, encouraging countless projects in the garage or basement workshops. This provided the confidence to take on many home projects and the wisdom to know when not to. It is no surprise that all pursued technical careers. As one of his grandchildren recently pointed out, his legacy is the lessons he taught us. Eric always had large fruit and vegetable gardens and shared the bounty and knowledge widely. Eric and Janet enjoyed traveling throughout the USA and the world. Eric enjoyed cutting and splitting firewood for the stove into his late eighties.
Eric looked for adventure from the start. While walking home from grade school on the afternoon of September 21, 1938, Eric experienced the lashing winds and rain of the New England hurricane of 1938 (also called "The Long Island Express"). It was thrilling entertainment for the young boy to watch trees and branches topple around him! Expecting to be chastised for being late and getting his feet wet, Eric was surprised and relieved by the joyful welcome he received from his mother when safely arriving home. As a teenager, he traipsed alone through the deep woods on snowshoes looking for small game and then walked tough streets in NY with his (rural) Peru senior-high classmates. More adventures followed in the Air Force and then with long cross-country road trips with the family.
Eric and Janet were active members of the United Methodist Church in Wappingers Falls, and later the Calvary Chapel of the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie, NY. They were also active in the NY State Association of Professional Land Surveyors.
There will be a service celebrating his life at 10:00 AM on June 13 at the Hudson Valley Calvary Chapel (36 Firemens Way, Poughkeepsie, NY) followed by social time with friends and family. Donations to the charity of your choice instead of flowers are encouraged. Eric and Janet were supporters of various veterans’ organizations and the Salvation Army. Eric will be interred at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, 342 South Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, Building 2, Section C, Niche 3, Row I with Janet.
Steve’s Addendum
I will capture some recent memories since I am really the primary channel for these.
A few weeks ago, we had a couple of days of warm sunny weather. The sort of weather you expect by mid-April, but it was an unexpected pleasure in early March. I had helped dad with lunch, as I often did (of course if I hadn’t a staff member would of). After lunch I looked out at the patio area and asked if he would like to go out. An immediate yes. It was maybe 65 but bright and sunny. The staff was not quite ready for this weather since there was no furniture out there. I just stood next to him as he dozed off in the sun. After 20 minutes or so I asked if he had enough sun yet. An immediate no. Well, OK. I certainly had nothing more pressing to do. A bit after that a hospice aid came looking for us. The 3 of us chatted for a while and I took my leave. Not sure exactly how long he was out there. So cool that he got some Sun in 2026!
Dad really enjoyed the letters he received from Aunt Nancy. The last one came about a week before he passed. At this point he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. I asked him if he would like me to read the letter and he assented. But, believe it or not, he read every other one up to that point.
Dad also enjoyed the many photos and videos shared from my phone. This included a lot of material on his 3 great grandchildren. These never failed to get a smile. But lots of other material too. He got a kick out of our videos of blasting behind the house, our many trips. etc. For example, I recently showed him a picture of parallel tracks on the road maybe 10 inches apart. It turns out that this was brine put down in advance of a storm. He understood and thought it fascinating. Also, the many family events that he was, sadly, just not able to attend. I sometimes felt a little bad showing this material because I know how much he would like to have attended. In the 5 years that he was basically imprisoned at Edgewood (nice as it is), he never once voiced a complaint about this. He made it easier for us than many might of.
I am not an expert in this, but it is clear that Dad's form of dementia was primarily around recall. The memories and logical thought seemed to largely still be there; just sort of difficult to get to. If I brought up a subject. Almost any subject, he could relate to it and have something to say about it. He was intrigued by the fact that the attic in our new house has large LVL beams and 12” thick poured walls in the basement. Many interactions like this. So, you learn to work with it. Challenging at times, but also rewarding because, with just a little work, we were having a conversation almost like old times. These were small blessings. He maintained his personality and sense of humor, and to the end, he recognized family members.
Dad enjoyed the head’s up I provided about upcoming visits. It is a bit unlikely he remembered by the time the visit came, but he was enjoying the prospect of the visit “in the moment.” It also seemed that most of the time he recalled the visits after the fact.
Dad was not a quitter. We see that in the obituary. It was certainly true after his left-side stroke in the fall of 2021. He worked through all the PT regaining significant function. It was also true at the end. The very last time I visited when he was mostly awake and aware (Monday or Tuesday before his passing on Saturday), I asked him if he would like some soup (and everything else, in turn). To each he said yes and then just couldn't quite bring himself to eat it. I truly don't think he made a "decision" to stop eating and drinking. I am not particularly spiritual, but it is almost like the decision was made for him.
What’s your fondest memory of Eric?
What’s a lesson you learned from Eric?
Share a story where Eric's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Eric you’ll never forget.
How did Eric make you smile?