Victor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 14, 1933, the son of the late Victor and Mary Gardy. He grew up in Philadelphia, attended local schools, and was a graduate of Northeast Catholic High School. He joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Machinery Repairman P/O 2c. From there he entered the U. S. Naval Academy for two years and is an Alumnus of the Class of ‘58. He finished his education at The Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated Class of 59 and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science, later obtaining a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1964.
Victor married Loretta Posegay, the daughter of John and Catherine Posegay of Allentown, Pennsylvania. on August 3, 1956. They spent their early years in Baltimore, Maryland, and then moved to East Hartford, Connecticut where Victor worked as a Research Engineer at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft until 1968. He then moved with his wife, and their growing family of five children to Shelburne, Vermont, where he worked as a Project Engineer for GE in Burlington.
Always active in his community, Victor served with the Jaycees, and as an officer with the PTO while in Connecticut. In Vermont he was a coach with Little League, making sure every participant had their fair chance at bat. In the mid-seventies he served on the organizing committee, and as General Chairman of the event for the Burlington International Games, a competition between Burlington, Ontario and Burlington, Vermont. In the 1970’s, he served on the Board of The Family Associates of UVM, serving a term as Co-President.
During his years with GE, Victor was awarded many patents used in airborne defense systems, and combustion components for gas turbines used in aircraft and large powerplant systems.
Always an inventor at heart, he also created and received a patent for a tongue retaining medical device which assisted people who had severe snoring and sleep apnea problems. He also secured a grant from the Department of Energy to build a prototype Augmented Savonius Windmill. This Demonstration project was a success and was on display at a farm in Charlotte. He also authored an article which attempted to correct a common erroneous image of tidal dynamics, and it appeared in the U.S.Naval Institute Proceedings Magazine.
After retirement, Victor and his wife spent much of their time in Virginia participating in the daily lives of their children, and grandchildren. He continued with his hobbies of developing wind energy, working with his son, David of TVWorldwide of Virginia, and collaborated with Research Botanist and farmer, Erik Andrus of Ferrisburgh, Vermont.
After the grandchildren grew into adulthood, Victor and his wife moved back to Vermont, and picked up their lives, enjoying the beauty and activities they have always loved about Vermont.
They were regular participants at the Charlotte Senior Center, enjoying the companionship of many fellow members, and the many happy visits of introducing their grandchildren to the beauty of Vermont.
Victor leaves his wife, Loretta of Shelburne, his children, son David Gardy and his wife Carolyn, of Herndon, Virginia, daughter Dr. Lynn David, and her husband, Dr. Vivek David of Vienna, Virginia, daughter Dr. Marianne Passerelli, and her husband Dr. James Passerelli of Hamden, Connecticut, son Matthew Gardi and his wife, Lisa of Key West, Florida, also grandchildren: Zachary David, Steven David, Jacob David of Vienna, Virginia, Maya Masters and husband Captain Nicholas Masters of Temple, Texas, Sarah Gardy and Celeste Gardy of Herndon, Virginia, Rachel Passerelli and Nicole Passerelli of Hamden, Connecticut, and great grandson Oliver Masters. He was predeceased by son Michael in 1980, and infant granddaughter, Julia Ruth Gardy in 1997. He also leaves two sisters, Anna Di Battista of Philadelphia, and Florence Gardy of Harpursville, New York. A sister, Rita Curtis, predeceased him in 2016. He also leaves a large extended family in the Pennsylvania area.
His family would like to thank University of Vermont Home Health Hospice staff, and especially his nurse Carrie, for providing them with the physical and emotional support to allow Victor to be comfortable in his home surrounded by loved ones during his last weeks.
A small private graveside service for immediate family will be held at Resurrection Park in South Burlington. A Celebration of Life service will be scheduled later for extended family and friends in Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to any charity that supports Veteran causes including; Tunnels to Towers https://t2t.org/; K9 for veterans https://donate.k9sforwarriors.org; Wounded Warrior Project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral and Cremation Service, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington, VT. To send online condolences to the family please visit www.readyfuneral.com.
Posted online on October 09, 2023
Published in Burlington Free Press
