RALPH LAWRENCE GARDNER, JR., 71, of 234 Raymond Drive, Dalton,died Thursday morning at Berkshire Medical Center after suffering an apparent
heart attack at home. Mr. Gardner was a long-time resident of Dalton, lived in Ormond
Beach, Florida, for twelve years, returning to The Berkshires to live in Dalton a year and
a half ago.Born in Pittsfield, May 31, 1935, a son of Ralph L. Gardner, Sr., and Kathryn
Ryan Gardner Scago, he was educated in Pittsfield schools and was a 1953 graduate of
Pittsfield High School. Mr. Gardner was employed by Kelly-Dietrich where he was Warehouse Manager
for 30 years, retiring in 1991.
From 1973 to 1978, he was co-owner with his brother, Bill, of Ralph & Bill's
on Daly Avenue in Dalton. During that time, they sponsored Ralph & Bill's Fast Pitch
Softball Team which competed in many Massachusetts state Class A Fast Pitch Tournaments. At the time of his death, he was working part-time as a Courier for Eagle Express.
He was a member of Teamsters Union 404. He was a member of Wahconah Country Club where he was an avid golfer and a volunteer with the Catholic Youth Center in Pittsfield.
In the late 1960s, Mr. Gardner was a member of the Pittsfield Wheelers, a semi-pro basketball team. They played in a benefit game against the New England Clippers, a paraplegic team, losing 38-32. While in Florida, he was a member of the Prestwick County Club in Ormond Beach where he won the Flight A Club Championship in 2001 and 2002. Mr. Gardner leaves his wife, the former Georgia Garivaltis, whom he married
April 12, 1957, in Pittsfield.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, Stephen M. Gardner of Vernon,Vermont, Ralph C. Gardner of Dalton, and Charles P. Gardner of Wellington, Florida;three brothers, Thomas Gardner of Dalton, William Gardner of Dalton, and Frank Scago, of Pittsfield; five sisters, Patricia Anderson of Sodona, California, Elizabeth
Underhill of Chester, Massachusetts, Dorothy Cowan of Pittsfield, Charlotte Sauve of
Balston Spa, New York, and Kathryn Barnes of Richmond; and three grandchildren.

FUNERAL NOTICE: RALPH LAWRENCE GARDNER, JR., who died Thursday, June 8, also
leaves his daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Gardner, his three loving grandchildren,Sean Gardner, Ryan Gardner, and Ashley Gardner; his brothers-in-law, Charles Garivaltis, Archie Geranios, and Robert Barnes; his sisters-in-law, Patricia Gardner,
Nancy Gardner, Judy Scago, Jane Geranois, and Carmen Garivaltis, and several
Nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by a sister, Ellen Caffrey, late of Dalton.
Funeral services for Mr. Gardner will be held Monday, June 12, at 9:00 a.m., from DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., at St. Agnes Church, concelebrated by Rev.
Christopher A. Malatesta, Pastor, and Rev. Peter A. Gregory, Pastor of St. Charles Church in Pittsfield. Burial will follow in Ashuelot Cemetery in Dalton. Calling hours
will be Sunday, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Dery Funeral Home in Pittsfield. In lieu of
flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Gardner may be made to Catholic Youth Center
in care of the Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ralph L. Gardner Jr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.