Robert Joseph Tardiff

Robert “Bob” Tardiff passed away peacefully at home on July 16, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on February 16, 1941, to Joseph and Olive (Richards) Tardiff in Niagara Falls, NY. Bob graduated from Kalamazoo College with a Bachelor of Science Degree and went on to earn a Masters of Business Administration from Western Michigan University. Bob resided for many years in Parchment, Kalamazoo, and finally St. Joseph. After completing his education, Bob worked in the paper manufacturing industry at Acme Ink, James River Corporation, and Simpson Plainwell Paper. He was a tireless volunteer, serving on the school board and as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Parchment; on the Board of Directors of Pipp Hospital (Plainwell) and Borgess Hospital; and as a supporter of The Open Door in Kalamazoo. He was a naturalist at the Sarrett Nature Center in Benton Harbor where the school children knew him as “Robear Tardif,” the French Voyager in the canoeing program. He was a member of the Audubon Society, the Berrien Birders Club, the St. Joseph County Nature Conservancy and the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Bob also served on the Board of Directors for Holistic Alliance. In his leisure time, Bob was an enthusiastic naturalist and outdoorsman, enjoying such activities as hiking, biking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and cultivating wildflowers. His interest in Michigan history led to the prairie restoration project on his property in Colon, MI. An avid “birder,” he identified 528 ABA area birds for his “life list.” Bob loved to travel, experience different cultures, and visited every state in the U.S. His passion for birding led to trips to Mexico, South America, Europe, Iceland, and China. Bob married his wife Marjorie on June 15, 1991. In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by his mother, Olive, of Exeter, NH, his sister, Nancy (Dick) Tavernier of Acton, MA, his brother, Herb (Lee Ellen) Tardiff of Auburn, NH, and his children: Janeane Tardiff of Kalamazoo, MI, Jerry Tardiff of Oldsmar, FL, Barb Watkin of Bloomingdale, MI, Sheila Carroll of Belding, MI, Cheryl (Kevin) Gendron of Grand Junction, MI, Joe (Janice) Tardiff of Plymouth, MI, Missy (Andy) Peterson of Bloomingdale, MI, David (Diane) Harter of Chicago, IL, Julie (Dave) Carpenter of Gurnee, IL, and Mike (Alexandra) Harter of Forest Grove, OR, nieces and nephews, and numerous grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his father, Joe, and two grandsons, Danny and Randy. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Bob’s name to the University of Chicago Stem Cell Transplant Program, 5841 S. Maryland Ave. MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637. Attn: Kim Carli. Phone 773-702-6512, or to: Sarrett Nature Center, 2300 N. Benton Center Rd, Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Cremation has taken place but the family would like you to join them on Sunday, August 3, at 2 pm at the Stark and Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, for reflection and memorial. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com