William Algernon Gardiner Jr. — writer, scholar, and friend — died on May 13, 2025 at the age of 83. 

Born on April 13, 1942 in Vinita, Oklahoma, Bill grew up in his family home in La Plata, Maryland. He attended Loyola University in Baltimore, graduating with a degree in English and winning several awards for poetry. He also served as the editor of the university’s Evergreen Quarterly.

From an early age, Bill devoured books. Determined to become a scholar, he earned a Masters degree in literature from Purdue University in 1966. In the 1970s, Bill moved to Washington, DC where he taught creative writing at American University and became a fixture in the avant-garde social scene, along with his partner, Norman.

Bill loved art and music. He traveled internationally whenever he had the chance, visiting Italy and Greece on multiple occasions to obtain the impressive collection of artwork that decorated his home. A lover of all things classical and ancient, he nonetheless made exceptions for the ribald humor of Mae West and other stars of the silver screen.

In 1979, Bill earned a PhD in English Literature from the University of Maryland. After earning his doctorate, Bill went on to serve for twenty years as Professor of English at Montgomery College’s Rockville campus He taught courses in ancient Greek mythology, Roman civilization, Shakespeare, and more. At Montgomery College, Bill helped found The Red Jacket literary magazine, where his poetry and stories were often published. The highlight of Bill’s career came in 1990, when he gave the memorial address in St. Mary’s Church in Rockville, on the fiftieth anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s death..

In 2000, Bill left the city and moved to Babylon Farm, near Uniontown, Maryland. There, he lived with his beloved cat, Blackie Perfect, on a 20-acre estate for nearly twenty years. During this time, Bill wrote and taught himself to draw. Between 2017 and 2019, he published three books of original poetry.

Bill spent the last years of his life at Nova Springs Assisted Living in Finksburg, Maryland. Bill enjoyed discussions with his friends; loved animals; and, as a self-proclaimed epicurean, set out to enjoy life to the full each day.