McNeill Archibald Gardner

August 4, 1917- July 8, 2014

Just two weeks ago Neill Gardner and his wife, SongNga, had coffee with their dear friends, Bob and Diane Motta. For over 40 years, Neill and his friends have shared coffee regularly in Pacific Grove cafes. In the 60’s, it was Tom’s on Forest Ave. with the mayor and local business folks. They moved to a place on Lighthouse Ave. and, for the past decade or so, they have been meeting at Holly’s. The one constant member through time was Neill. Neill passed away on July 8, one month shy of his 97th birthday.

It all started for Neill in 1970 when he bought and revived the old Pacific Grove Tribune and Pebble Beach Green Sheet for one dollar. Neill began publishing the paper in his garage, bringing local news and his flavor of opinion to his well-read Shorelines column where he critiqued city government and amused people with stories about his wife, Averil, and daughter, Adele.

Fresh from Los Angeles, Neill was considered a “Johnny Come Lately”. His good humor, and skill as a newspaperman allowed him quick access to all of the happenings in Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach. He loved the stories, big and small, and treated everything from the Butterfly Parade to interviewing President Ford with respect. With his fedora, suspenders, and cigar he became an easily recognized man about town. Later in life, he published the Monterey Bay Tribune with his partner Nader Agha, retiring in 1992.

Neill came by hard work honestly. He was born on a farm in Hazel Dell outside of Portland, Oregon on August 4, 1917 to pioneer parents, James and Lillian (Osborne) Gardner. As a child,e had free rein of the community on horseback. His father had one of the original automobiles, which had a crank. Neill always said that women’s liberation came with the automatic starter.

He worked in shipyards and as a farmworker, but his high school teacher gave him his ticket to work by training him on a linotype. Knowing how to run and repair a linotype gave Neill work across the Pacific Northwest during the depression and while he attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.

In a chance meeting with a beautiful Canadian on a bus in 1939, he found his wife of 45 years, Averil. He charmed Averil’s mother by sending California oranges in the middle of a Saskatchewan winter, and, after meeting Averil just three times, they were married.

Two boys, Maurice and Jay, were born before Neill enlisted in the Army Air Corps to serve in the Pacific as a cryptographer during World War II. After the war, they settled in the San Fernando Valley where he was a member of the International Typographical Union for over 25 years. As Scout Master, Neill took his Boy Scout Troop on many hair-raising adventures in the California wilderness. Neill often had two or three jobs to support his young family. During this time, his son, Orrin, and daughter, Adele, were born.

After moving to the Monterey Peninsula, Neill and Averil became deeply involved in the community. Neill was a member of the Pacific Grove and Cannery Row Kiwanis Club and enjoyed working on their projects, especially the food truck at the county fair. He and Averil also hosted international students from the Naval Postgraduate School. In 1973, they opened their home to a family of four from Viet Nam. It was an experience that was treasured by all. He was the recognized Tonk champion of the Monterey Peninsula, a situation brought about by the lack of challengers, who either died or moved to more affordable locales.

Neill cared deeply about seniors and senior housing and was instrumental in establishing Portola Vista in Monterey and Vista Point in Pacific Grove. Averil and Neill were among the original residents of Portola Vista, where Neill resided until his death.

Neil was a loving father and husband. He was especially tender to his son, Orrin, who was a Viet Nam veteran and to his daughter, Adele, who was a lifelong companion. He enjoyed his life with Averil and they delighted in the times that their grandchildren stayed in their home. They welcomed his mother into their home. After a brief illness in 1985, Averil passed away in his arms.

Neill always enjoyed life and people. He would often say, “We live in Paradise”. No one made that more true for him than his beloved SongNga. Song, as he called her, and he were married in 1989. Song introduced him to the wide world. They traveled to Hawaii, Europe, and Asia and enjoyed cruises with family. SongNga’s daughters and grandchildren adopted Neill and his family as their own. SongNga was with Neill, bringing him joy, laughter, and tender loving care until the end. They celebrated their 25th anniversary this year. SongNga’s daughters, Phoung and Lan, were a constant source of light and love for Neill, bringing treats and flowers to brighten his life.

In recent years, Neill faced some health challenges, always without complaint, and always with good humor. His mind was sharp and he read and commented on the news and politics to the end. In recent years, his stories of the past century were well-told and enjoyed by his family and friends. He deeply appreciated the weekly call he got from his grandson, Duncan. He never lost his dapper style and he never missed a haircut from Gene the Barber. People who know Neill Gardner will remember him as someone who cared little for wealth, but was endlessly curious and open. As Song says, “He was a good guy.” He truly lived his motto, “Be good to one another.”

He passed gently at Westland House on July 8, 2014. At Neill’s request there will be no services or memorials. Please remember him with joy, and little tip of the hat.

Neill is survived by his wife, SongNga Gardner; daughter, Adele (Dan Hoppenfeld) Gardner of Aptos, California and son, James Gardner of Newport, Oregon; his daughters, Hong Dao (Nuguyn) Ta, Hong Hoa (Joe) Hguyn, and Hong Lan (Vinh) Ta of Kuala Lumur and Hong Phuong (Sonny) Nguyen of Benicia; grandchildren, Duncan and Geraldine Gardner, Mike Gardner, Jill Gardner, Tammy and Daniel LeMelle, Tyler and Mita Shah Hoppenfeld, Jeff Gardner, Jessica Gardner and Justin Gardner and David Nguyen, Sonia Le, John Giang, Charlie, Hellen Giang, and Chi Giang and great-grandchildren, Tracy Gardner, Isaiah Gardner, Weston Gardner, Morgan LeMelle, Mindy Nguyen and Corey Nguyen.

Neill is also survived by his nephew, Wallace (Mary) Gardner, his grandniece, Maria Gardner, grandnephew, Stephen Gardner; great-grandniece, Abby and many wonderful nieces and nephews in the Larson Clan in Los Angeles County. Neill was preceded in death by his wife, Averil; sons, Maurice and Orrin; grandson, Jay; parents, James and Lillian Gardner and brothers, Stanley and James.