Obituary of Kenneth C.S. Garde

 On Thursday April 26, 2018, Kenneth Christian Saaba Garde passed away following a long and valiant battle with congestive heart failure. To the end, he remained upbeat, with a fighter’s spirit. Defying the odds, he made it home for his final hours, as was his wish, he was surrounded by his family as he left this earth to live in his eternal home in heaven.
Ken was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and grew up in Bridgeport CT. After high school he travelled the country for several years working as a ‘roadie’ for a number of bands including; Taj Mahal, James Taylor, Judy Collins and the Allman Brothers and as a lighting technician at the Woodstock festival. Following his adventurous spirit, Ken took what was planned as a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard and found himself stranded on the island when he showed up to the ferry at night only to learn that the boats didn’t run at that hour. A day trip, turned to a weekend, which began a 40 year love affair with a special place he would come to consider his home.
In the 1970’s, he managed Cranberry Acres Campground and it was there that he met his wife, Nina. After his years at the campgrounds, Ken and his brother Brian opened the Spaghetti Pot in 1978. A restaurant that was known for its excellence in homemade eggplant parmigiana as well as strombolis and calzones. Ken later developed Caretaker Home Services, a property management company which he, and his family ran until this past year.
Ken was very proud to be an active member of the island community serving for 20 years on the Tisbury Board of Health, working for the D.P.W. and participating in a variety of projects for the town. One of his greatest joys was coaching Little League and Youth Basketball. Even as his health declined, he never missed an opportunity to coach or mentor. Most recently, forming bonds while giving basketball and landscaping tips to his young neighbors. One of whom was so influenced by him that he wrote about Ken’s advice in a school paper. In addition to his passion for coaching and community service, Ken also loved to cook and celebrate his Danish heritage by inviting his friends and family into his home to share in a traditional Danish meal.
Ken is survived by his wife of 37 years, Nina and their four children, Rebecca Hebert, Kaleb Garde, Hannah Garde and Daniel Garde; his grandchildren, Evalyn, Brycen and Oliver; son-in-law Christian Hebert; beloved sister-in-law Lisa Barlow; brother’s-in-law Bob Barlow and Ed Tamulionis; nephew’s Adam & Jared Garde; nieces Lexi & Andrea Barlow as well as many ‘adopted’ children who often gathered in the family’s home. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Erik and Elizabeth Garde and his brothers Arne and Brian.
The family will be holding visiting hours from 4-6pm on Thursday, May 3rd at the Shepherd Funeral home in Kingston MA with a brief service to follow. A Memorial service will be held at 9:30am on Saturday May 19, at Chapman Cole and Gleason, 56 Edgartown Vineyard Haven Rd, Oak Bluffs MA with a Celebration of Life to follow at the PA Club, 137 Vineyard Ave, Oak Bluffs. Please bring a dish to share.

 In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ken’s name to the Jimmy Fund or the American Heart Association.