Bernard Albert Gardetto, Jr.

Bernard A. (“Bernie”) Gardetto, Jr., 89, passed peacefully in his home in January surrounded by his loved ones.

Bernie was born in 1935 and he grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. The house on Mill Street was the scene of many wonderful and hilarious stories of his mother Connie and her three boys, Albert, Bernard, and Stephen. He went to local schools and then he graduated with a BA in accounting from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from the University of Southern Illinois. He earned many awards during his long career including three meritorious civilian service awards.

Bernard was a senior executive and had a distinguished career in both government and private industry. He began his career as an Air Force officer with the Air Force Audit Agency (AFAA). After leaving the Air Force, he joined the international accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand, where he was responsible for field audit work in major corporations and educational institutions. Bernie returned to AFAA as an audit manager and developed audit programs for worldwide applications in diverse areas of Air Force operations. He helped develop the AFAA role supporting Resource Management Systems. He was a long-time Director of Acquisitions and Logistics at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. He held this position until he assumed the duties of Deputy Assistant Comptroller of Defense Finances and Accounting.

Bernie had many interests which brought him a wide range of both friends and stories. He was a world traveler, raptor volunteer, skier, scuba diver and fisherman. He was known for having a curious mind and a love of research. Favorite topics for him included medical knowledge, baking, beer. scotch, and the proper making of a Rob Roy.

He was known for his love of helping others. He enjoyed his time cooking and serving food at various soup kitchens in Denver. He offered comfort and humor to our troops while volunteering at the USO. He also volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul in various roles. His generous nature was evident to all who knew him.

Bernie is survived by his former wife, Mary-Sue Gardetto (Withington), and their three children: Stephen Gardetto of Beavercreek, Ohio, Michael Gardetto of Boston, Massachusetts, and Diane Lux of Beavercreek, Ohio, and his three grandchildren Olivia Lux, Stephen Lux, and Aidan Lux. He was predeceased by his beloved daughter, Paula Gardetto.

Bernie leaves a wide network of friends and loved ones, especially his companion, Marilynn Miller of Denver, 

Colorado. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Services for Bernie are pending.

His family respectfully requests, that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Bernie’s name to:

Denver Adaptive Divers, phone 303-399-2877 or Denverdivers.com, follow the link to Spotlight Colorado.com.

Raptor Education Foundation, phone 303-680-8500 or USAREF.org.