Orlando M. Jardini
Devoted to family, education
Orlando M. Jardini, 85, died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, Thursday, November 21, 2013.
A son of the late Paschaol (Patsy) Jardini and Michelina Mancini Jardini of Carrick, and brother of the late Josephine C. (Frank C.) Hasenkopf, he was born October 11, 1928, in Pittsburgh, and spent most of his life in Brentwood. Mr. Jardini moved to Meadow Lands three years ago.
Surviving are his beloved wife of 51 years, Linda Price Jardini; and three children, David (Dawn Shober) of Meadow Lands, Nancy Jardini (Morris J. Panner) of Chevy Chase, Md., and Michele Jardini (Sean) Gannon of Hermosa Beach, Calif. His memory will be cherished by 10 grandchildren, Patrick David Jardini of Houston, Jacquelyn Mariana (JJ) Jardini, Catherine Price (Rinnie) Jardini, Grazia Linda (Gracie) of Meadow Lands, Michelina (Mikey) Jardini Panner, David Jardini Panner, Josephine (Joey) Jardini Panner, Martine (Nini) Jardini Panner of Chevy Chase, Orlando Jacob (Jake) Gannon and Eleanor (Elle) Louise Gannon of Hermosa Beach; and a great-grandson, Ethan Patrick Jardini of Navarre, Fla. He is also survived by his brother, John E. (Teresa Gallo) Jardini of Carrick and deeply loved nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by his special friends, the Artmans of Norman, Okla., the Kuchta family of Baldwin and the Larragoite family of Annapolis, Md., along with many dear cousins and relatives in Brazil.
His life was devoted to his family and to education. After graduating from Brentwood High School in 1946, Mr. Jardini entered the family masonry business until serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Following his military service, he became the first member of his extended family to attend college, earning a bachelor of arts (1956), a master of letters (1957) and doctorate in Spanish (1967) from the University of Pittsburgh. He began his teaching career at Thomas Jefferson High School in 1956, leaving that school to continue his graduate studies in 1963. He was a teaching fellow (1963-64) and Mellon fellow (1964-65) at the University of Pittsburgh, instructor and assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University (1965-68) and associate professor and professor at Chatham College (1970-1994). Mr. Jardini retired from Chatham College as professor emeritus in 1994. His teaching career also included a long association with the University of Oklahoma, including summer institutes beginning in 1960 and programs at the cultural studies center in Colima, Mexico, from 1967 to 1993.
He was a lifelong resident of Brentwood, member of Brentwood School Board (1971-1995), co-founder of Brentwood High School Hall of Fame and an officer of Brentwood High School Alumni Association since its founding. Mr. Jardini was an inductee of Brentwood Hall of Fame. He also served Mon Valley School for Exceptional Children and Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School as a board member for 22 years, as well as Carriage House Children’s School, Squirrel Hill, for 18 years. Upon his retirement in 1994, he and his beloved wife, Linda, enjoyed many years of travel throughout the world.
Friends will be received from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, November 23, in John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc., 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood. At 6:30 p.m., friends are asked to gather at South Hills Country Club, Whitehall, for a memorial celebration reception and dinner. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Brentwood Library, 3501 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227, or Family Hospice & Palliative Care, 50 Moffett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15243. Please send condolences to www.johnfslater.com.