M.W. Roland H. Gardner Biography 1990

Roland Hard Gardner

Brother Roland Hard Gardner was born September 21, 1929, in New York City, the only child of Edith and Roland Gardner. The family soon moved to New Canaan, Connecticut, where he attended School and graduated from New Canaan High School in 1948. After graduation he attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, majoring in Physics and Engineering.

Roland enlisted in the Army Signal Corps in May 1951 to participate in the Korean conflict He took his basic training at Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia, and subsequently served as a Cryptographer in Nuremberg, Germany from December 1951 to April 1954.ln August 1951, he married the former Shirley Gregory of Darien, Connecticut, and she accompanied him to Germany.

Having decided to make Land surveying his life's career and, after receiving his Honorable Discharge from the Army, Roland attended Bridgeport University for four years in the evening program. Meanwhile, he worked for a Land Surveying Firm, thereby getting his education and his time requirements to take the Connecticut State Land Surveying license examination. In August 1961, he earned his Connecticut State Land Surveyors License and in December 1961, his New York State Land Surveyors License. On February 5, 1962, He opened up his own Land Surveying Business in Wilton, Connecticut He was a member of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping and the National Society of Professional Surveyors.

Brother Gardner was raised a Master Mason in Harmony Lodge No. 67, A.F. & A.M., New Canaan, Connecticut on November 2, 1960. He was appointed Marshal in 1964, and proceeded through the Chairs and was Elected and Installed as Worshipful Master of Harmony Lodge No. 67 for the year 1971. Brother Gardner is in the middle of a line of Rolands who have been Masters of Harmony Lodge No. 67 of New Canaan. His father was Master in 1942, Roland was Master in 1971, and his son served in 1990. Upon returning to the ranks he served as President of the Fellowcraft Club in 1972. He was Elected Secretary of Harmony Lodge No. 67 in 1975, and served in that Office through 1984. Brother Roland was a Past President of the First District Blue Lodge Council, and the Charter President of the Harmony Past Master's Club.

Brother Roland was appointed District Deputy for Masonic District I-A by then Grand Master John C. Sturges for the year 1981 and reappointed for the year of 1982 by Grand Master Christopher T. Wyld. In 1983, he was recommended by Past Grand Master John C. Sturges and appointed by Brother Frederick H. Lorenson, Most Worshipful Grand Master, to the Office of Grand Senior Steward. He progressed through the Grand Lodge line and was Elected and Installed as the One Hundred Forty-Fourth Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Connecticut

As a Grand Lodge Officer, Brother Gardner served on numerous Grand Lodge Committees and was the Grand Representative of Mexico's York Grand Lodge near the Grand Lodge of Connecticut.

Brother Roland is a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Bridgeport. In addition he worked through the York Rite Degrees in Norwalk and Darien.

Brother Roland and Shirley have four children; Roland Jr., Wayne, Cherie and Jennifer; and four grandchildren. Both sons are members of Harmony Lodge No. 67, and both daughters are Past Worthy Advisors of Norwalk Assembly No. 14, Order of the Rainbow for Girls. Roland, Shirley, Cherie and Jennifer are all holders of the Grand Cross of Color, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. Brother Roland served on the Advisory Board of Norwalk Assembly for eight years, and was Chairman for five years.

Brother Gardner was also a member of the following Masonic groups:
Washington Chapter No. 24, Royal Arch Masons, Norwalk, Connecticut Washington Council No.6, Royal and Select Masters, Darien, Connecticut
Clinton Commandery No.3, Knights Templar, Norwalk, Connecticut
DeWitt Clinton Lodge of Perfection
Washington Council, Princes of Jerusalem
Pequonnock Chapter, Rose Croix
Lafayette Consistory, S.P.R.S.
Pyramid Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Trumbull, Connecticut
Karyas Shrine Club
Monker Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R., Norwalk, Connecticut
Masonic Veteran Association of Connecticut
Past District Deputies Association of Connecticut Twilight Club, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Connecticut Valley Forest No. 176, Tall Cedars of Lebanon Nutmeg Order No. 106, Swords of Bunker Hill
Rosemary Chapter No. 85, Order of Eastern Star

He also belonged to:
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
New Canaan Grange No. 38, New Canaan, Connecticut
Wilton Chamber of Commerce, Wilton, Connecticut
Charter member, Founders Advisory Board, The Wilton Bank, Wilton, Connecticut

Brother Gardner passed away March 14, 2007. A Masonic Service was held Monday night, March 19, at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, New Canaan, and a grave-side service was held on Tuesday morning at Lakeview Cemetery.