Jan Gardner
February 23, 2009
By Administrator
After a heroic battle with cancer for six and a half years, Jan Gardner passed away Feb. 6, 2009, at age 55.During the course of those years, she fought her disease with tenacious courage and bravery, always maintaining a positive and hopeful attitude to the very end. Throughout the ordeal, she continued to devote herself to her profession as a kindergarten teacher, demonstrating both her zeal for life and her deep-seated love for teaching children.
While in the midst of chemotherapy/radiation treatment and teaching full time, she earned her master’s degree in December 2006.
She touched the hearts and minds of every child and parent she met, and served as a model of inspiration for her family, coworkers and friends. She will be forever sadly missed by all who knew her.
Jan was born in Miami on Jan. 5, 1954, to Fred and Emily Ehrhorn. After graduating from North Miami High School, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in education from Florida Atlantic University in June 1976, graduating Phi Kappa Phi.
She taught school for four years, but her love of travel and desire for additional challenges drew her to a new career as a flight attendant with Air Florida Airlines, where she excelled as an in-flight supervisor on the DC-10 Aircraft, flying international routes.
Following the bankruptcy of Air Florida Airlines in 1984, Jan and her husband moved to Minneapolis, where she continued to work as a flight attendant with Sun Country Airlines. Within two years, she and her husband relocated to Seattle and bought a house in the area then known as the Samm-amish Plateau.
In 1989, she gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Jennifer, and for the next few years devoted herself to motherhood. When her daughter was 4 years old, Jan returned to teaching by taking a position as a pre-school instructor with TOBY School. By 1995, she had earned her Washington State Teaching Certificate and was back in the kindergarten classroom at Redmond Elementary School.
In fall 1998, she transferred to Louisa May Alcott Elementary School, where she remained for the duration of her career.
It was there that Jan exhibited her talents and was soon recognized by co-workers, parents and, most of all, her students to be a truly gifted and exceptional kindergarten teacher. Her achievements and accomplishments were acknowledged both at Alcott Elementary and throughout the Lake Washington School District.
In addition to being a deeply devoted wife and mother, Jan had many other passions that were an integral part of her life. She loved to cook, for both family and friends, and did so with a true, gourmet flair.
She loved all of life’s holidays and celebrated by always decorating her home beautifully. She possessed numerous artistic talents and created greeting cards of an exceptional and professional-like quality.
She was both a prolific reader and an excellent bowler. She did skydiving, hiking, skiing, swimming and was a formidable opponent on the racquetball court. She loved all of nature, especially the birds and the water, and enjoyed many sailing trips in the San Juan Islands with her husband, family and friends.
Jan is survived by her husband Chris; her daughters Jennifer and Amber (Barber); her mother Emily Ehrhorn; her sister Barbara (Byerley); and her two cats, Smokey and Chemo.
A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, March 1, 2009, for family, co-workers and friends.
