Francis X. Gardner, 79, of Concord died Sunday at the VA Medical Center in Manchester. He was born in New York City, the son of John and Mary (McFarland) Gardner. He was raised in Cambridge, Mass. He served in the Army's Yankee Division in the European Theater during World War II. He was wounded, captured and spent a year in German prison camps; he was later awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and other decorations. Gardner moved to the Concord area in the early 1950s. He worked as a purchasing agent for the State of New Hampshire, retiring in 1998. He was a lifelong actor, singer and director and was a member of the Concord Community Players for many years, serving as past president. He appeared professionally at area summer theaters, taught stagecraft at Nathaniel Hawthorne College and served as the Capitol Theater's Technical Director. He was a former member of the professional stagehands union. He was predeceased by his son Timothy in 1986. Survivors include his wife, Joan (Stewart) Gardner of Concord; two sons, both of Hopkinton; a daughter of Saxton's River, Vt.; three brothers, Hugh Gardner, Bernard Gardner, and Robert Gardner, all of Massachusetts; his former wife Penelope (Owen) Gardner, four granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews.
Francis X. Gardner, 79, of Concord died Sunday at the VA Medical Center in Manchester. He was born in New York City, the son of John and Mary (McFarland) Gardner. He was raised in Cambridge, Mass. He served in the Army's Yankee Division in the European Theater during World War II. He was wounded, captured and spent a year in German prison camps; he was later awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and other decorations. Gardner moved to the Concord area in the early 1950s. He worked as a purchasing agent for the State of New Hampshire, retiring in 1998. He was a lifelong actor, singer and director and was a member of the Concord Community Players for many years, serving as past president. He appeared professionally at area summer theaters, taught stagecraft at Nathaniel Hawthorne College and served as the Capitol Theater's Technical Director. He was a former member of the professional stagehands union. He was predeceased by his son Timothy in 1986. Survivors include his wife, Joan (Stewart) Gardner of Concord; two sons, both of Hopkinton; a daughter of Saxton's River, Vt.; three brothers, Hugh Gardner, Bernard Gardner, and Robert Gardner, all of Massachusetts; his former wife Penelope (Owen) Gardner, four granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews.
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