Norman Alfred Gard passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 8, 2017, in Concord, California. He was 86 years old.
Norman is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Irene Ramirez Gard, and his two daughters, Karen Gianuario (Robert) and Janis Christopherson (Carl). He is predeceased by his parents, Charles B. Gard and Clarine Percy, his brother, Charles C. Gard and his daughter, Denise Marie. He is also survived by step-sons, Joseph J. (Roxanne) and Victor J. Racanelli (Hiromi), as well as grandchildren Richard and Rachel Gianuario, Joseph R., Genevieve , Victor M., Arianna, Sophia and great-granddaughter Pierce Racanelli. Norman also leaves behind sister-in-law, Katherine Gard, niece, Carol Price (Michael) and nephews David (Stephanie), Robert , and James Gard (Tammy). Great nieces and great nephews, cousins, extended family, longtime friends and the Christ the King church community will also miss Norman dearly.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Norman graduated from U. C. Berkeley and later received a PhD in Criminal Justice. He loved to play golf, read, travel and research family history. He was a true gentleman of integrity who always enjoyed family and friends. Norman’s accomplishments include serving our country in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Windham Bay in Hawaii, Philippine Islands, Japan, Korea, Indochina, Canada and Mexico. He was Supervising Special Investigator with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for the Department of Justice. A few of Norman’s major criminal investigative assignments consist of several prison homicides including “Soledad 7” and “The San Quentin 6. Norman also supervised in the multi-federal, county and state agency investigations of the Symbionese Liberation Army, the school bus kidnapping at Chowchilla, and Jim Jones People’s Temple.
Services will begin August 16 at Ouimet Bros. Funeral Chapel, 4125 Clayton Rd., Concord, with visitation at 4:00 pm and recitation of the Rosary at 7:30 pm. Funeral Liturgy August 17, 10 am at Christ the King Church, 199 Brandon Rd., Pleasant Hill, followed by interment at 1:00 pm at Golden Gate Nat’l Cemetery, 1300 Sneath Ln., San Bruno. A 2 pm reception follows at the Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Ave., So. San Francisco. Donations in Norman’s name may be made to the Monument Crisis Ctr, 1990 Market St., Concord.

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