Robin Pierce Gardner

Robin was born in Charlotte, North Carolina to Father, Robin Brem Gardner and Mother, Margaret Pierce Gardner on August 17, 1934.

Robin attended Kentucky Military Institute in High School where he was a standout basketball and baseball player. After graduating, Robin attended North Carolina State University and majored in Chemical Engineering, earning both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in that field in 1956 and 1958, respectively. In 1961 Robin earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Fuel Technology at Penn State University.

By 1964, Robin began working in the Nuclear Engineering Department as a Professor - a position he held for 55 years until his retirement in 2019. Robin won many awards during his career at N.C. State, including being the recipient of the Alcoa Foundation Distinguished Research Award at the North Carolina State University School of Engineering in 1986; receiving the Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professorship Award in 1996; being honored with the Richard Joshua Reynolds Award for excellence in teaching and research in 1998; and winning the Centennial Fellow College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State University in 1996. Robin also earned the tremendous distinction of being named Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Engineering while at N.C. State. Robin was a great teacher and good friend to many of his students while working in the Nuclear Engineering Department, and many of those students would go on to earn their PHD's themselves.

Robin was also an outstanding tennis player, winning many tournaments including 5 North Carolina State Closed Championships, one of them being in mixed doubles with wife, Linda in 1991.

Robin also attended Highland Methodist Church in Raleigh, N.C. for more than 30 years and was a member of the chair where he sang many solos with his beautiful voice. The world was truly a better place with Robin in it.

He is survived by his wife, Linda and two stepsons, Scott and Chris Deuel and half-brother Johnny Gardner. Robin will truly be missed.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2024, 1:00pm at Highland Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Robin, or a message of condolence for his family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.