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Harold Gardenswartz passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM at the age of 91. He was born in Denver in 1917, and grew up in a close-knit Jewish neighborhood on the West Side of Denver. He graduated from West High School in 1934, and from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1939 with a B.A. degree in Business. He moved to Albuquerque in November 1939, and opened H. Cook Sporting Goods on 6th and Central Ave. Harold was one of the original independent merchants in the downtown area, following it with a store on Nob Hill in the '50s, then Winrock in the '60s. In 1963, he started Harold's Leathers Goods store, also in Winrock and ran that for eight years. He operated the sporting goods stores until 1969 when he sold to Zales Corporation of Dallas. In 1971, Harold (and his wife Shirley) moved to Dallas and he became President of the Sporting Goods Division for Zales opening and operating 42 stores in a period of five years. In 1974, he left Zales and returned to Albuquerque taking a position in advertising and marketing at the First Interstate Bank, which he held until 1979. In 1975, he opened Roberto's Luggage store in El Paso Elcon Mall, in 1979 a second Roberto's in Winrock, and then in Midland, TX in 1981, finally selling all three stores in 1982. He was also associated with Gardenswartz Team Sales from 1984-88 until his retirement. In 1940, he married Shirley Spiegelman and they just celebrated 68 years of marriage. He is survived by children Art (Sonya Priestly), Joann (Philip Carchman) and Bobbi (Gary Siegel); his grandchildren Seth, Dan, Rena, Rebecca, Jennie, David and Jonathan; and nine great-grandchildren. Harold was very active in the Albuquerque business community. He was treasurer of the Downtown Merchant Association from 1940-43, a member of the Lions and Rotary Clubs and belonged to the Masonic Temple. He served on the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation Board from 1975-85 where he led the funding raising efforts from 1976-77 and was head of the National Chain Store Drive for the United Way from 1976-77. He has been a member of the Albuquerque Country Club since 1944, and was the oldest member. He served as a member of the Albuquerque Air Quality Control Committee from 1975-77, served as President of the Albuquerque Jewish Federation from 1951-53 and received the Award of Merit from the United Jewish Appeal for having served as Chairman of the Albuquerque Jewish Welfare Fund. He was the Ski Ball Honoree in 1989 for helping the ski industry get established in New Mexico. He was a member of Congregation B'nai Israel. He and his wife were instrumental in establishing the Ronald Gardenwartz Jewish Community Center in 2000, and together received the Harold B. Albert Community Service Award and Presidential Award by the JCC of Greater Albuquerque. Harold was very generous with his time and resources with his community and his family. In addition to his sharp business instincts, Harold was known for his keen sense of humor; he enjoyed playing tricks on his friends and was often found dressing up for Halloween parties. He enjoyed golf, fishing, and playing cards; he frequently had hot gin rummy games going with his friends, called the Gin Club, and at the Albuquerque Country Club. Family was very important to him and he organized yearly family reunions. Mr. Gardenswartz was considered a business icon in the Albuquerque community and a role model for his family on how to live life to the fullest with warmth, love, generosity, and spirit. His family would like to especially thank Christina Jojola, Rosalyn Decrescenzo, and Julie Ann Groome for the wonderful care given to Mr. Gardenswartz. Services were held Friday, August 15, 2008, 2:00 p.m. at B'Nai Israel. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Bnai Isral, 4401 Indian School NE., Albuquerque, NM 87110 or the Ronald Gardenswartz Jewish Community Center, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87109. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333 www.frenchmortuary.com
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