Ross Gardner, Beloved Teacher, Dead at 49

Services are scheduled Thursday and Friday for Ross Gardner Jr., a beloved teacher at Holmstead School in Ridgewood that died unexpectedly Tuesday.

He was 49 years old.

The school, with the mission to serve students ages 13 to 18 who have “high intellectual potential but have been unable to achieve successfully in traditional school settings,” was devastated by the loss, said Holmstead Director Patricia Whitehead.

Gardner, who began teaching math at the school seven years ago, will be remembered for the “phenomenal connections that he made with students,” she said. “Our students are absolutely blindsided by this. They’re crushed."

Last residing with his family in Montvale, Gardner was born in San Diego and earned his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, according to an obituary prepared by C.C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home.

Gardner made an impact at the school extending beyond his math classes, holding small group tutoring sessions for students.

He was also active with the school's physical education program, introducing golf, one of his passions, to the curriculum and accompanying gym classes outdoors for basketball and roller hockey.

"He would be there rain, shine, snow or sleet," Whitehead said.

“He made a huge difference in their lives, many of the kids,” she continued. “He was like a father to them. He had a warm heart – very caring, gave special attention to them.”

Gardner was also a father of five, survived by Ross III, Luke, John, Claire and Mary, and wife Juliane, according to his obituary.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.n. Thursday at CC Van Emburgh Funeral Home in Ridgwood, with a funeral service scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River.