Dr. Robert S. Gardner

Dr. Robert (Bob) Samuel Gardner, 82, of Plymouth Township, passed away on October 8, 2026 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Bob was born in the Nesbitt Hospital, Kingston, PA, the only child of Samuel and H. Roberta Eaton Gardner. He grew up in the Back Mountain in the little town of Orange.

He was a 1962 graduate of Dallas High School where he was an outstanding student, athlete, and musician. After Bob finished high school, he went on to what was then Wilkes College where he earned a BA degree in history in 1967 and a few years later, he earned an MS degree at Wilkes University. Bob enjoyed being a musician and featured as a vocalist and saxophonist in area bands such as The Original Starfires.

Very soon after, Bob began his career in public school teaching at Northwest Area School District where he taught history, economics, psychology, and Social Studies/Literature Seminar. Also, while at Northwest, he coached cross country and track. After Bob completed a degree in educational administration from Temple University in 2003, he became an administrator at Northwest, retiring as Superintendent. When he retired from Northwest Area, he went on to teach in the Wilkes University education department, retiring from his Wilkes position as an associate professor in 2016. Bob was a great teacher who truly cared about his students, and they loved being in his classes.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents.

Surviving him is his loving wife, Judith A. (Rodda) Gardner, with whom he shared 31 wonderful years of marriage. Also, he is survived by his daughter Nicole and her husband Jared and their children Aidan, Samuel, and Nia; stepson Dr. Joseph J. Rasimas and his wife Courtney and their daughter Meadow; sister-in-law Barbara Welch and her husband Dean and their son Jim; and sister-in-law Barbara Rodda and her son Jimmy.

Bob’s family members would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the loving and dedicated medical professionals at the General Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, who cared for Bob. A teacher to the end, Bob was on the Humanity Registry and willed his remains to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School for use in medical training.

The family will receive friends for visitation Sunday, October 18th from 11am till noon at Dinelli Family Funeral Home, 170 E. Broad Street, Nanticoke.

Donations may be made in Bob’s memory to Wilkes University or Temple University or to a charity of the donor’s choice.