March 6, 2009 (Etobicoke, ON) – The Canadian cycling community was sad to lose one of it’s most stalwart and admired supporters as Joe Gardin Sr. passed away on Wednesday, March 4 at the Trillium Health McCall Centre in Etobicoke following a lengthy battle with heart disease. He was a fixture on Canada’s cycling scene during the 1980s manufacturing road and track Gardin Bikes, later opening Veneto cycle on Bloor St. West as cycling flourished.

Known for his quick wit Gardin became a legend for his brash style and passion for cycling supporting top Canadian riders such as Curt Harnett, Clara Hughes and Denise Kelly. Joe (Aronne) Gardin arrived in Canada from Italy in 1955 and built an empire that included his main business, Mobile Industries Inc., a world-renowned material handling manufacturing company.

But his true passion was cycling and he loved racing and helping amateur athletes reach their potential – and many did with his help. We join the cycling community in mourning his loss and send condolences to his family and friends.

Denise Kelly the Ontario Cycling Association’s Provincial Coaching Director sent us her thoughts and memories of Joe Gardin.

I just received the sad news that Joe Gardin had passed away. I have never forgotten this man and his family who did so much to support me and the cycling community. In fact, one of my training routes in Halton passes by his old house where I happened to ride by yesterday, so he is never far from my memory.

Joe was instrumental in helping amateur athletes reach their potential in the sport. I was very fortunate to benefit from Joe’s big heart and his passion for cycling. He sponsored me during the entire time I was racing on the National Team in the eighties and early nineties. When I was on home soil, I’d proudly wear the Gardin jersey and then the Veneto Cycle one, named after the store his son opened up on Bloor St. I won both the High Park and Queen’s Park races in Toronto while racing for Gardin, something he was very happy about!

His famous line was, “I won’t give you money but take all the equipment you need.” He wasn’t kidding. I’d go visit him at the warehouse on Mavis Rd. and literally take a shopping cart to pile it high with wheels, tires, components … you name it. I was one of the first riders to try out the prototype frames he built on site – the ‘compact’ frame (with the curved seat tube) and his first carbon frame. I always had custom built frames and rode them around the world. I kept the last one he made for me in 1991 complete with first generation Shimano components and down tube shifters.

Joe and his wife, Bette, welcomed me into the fold like one of their family. The Toronto Italia Cycling Club was a huge beneficiary of his generosity with many a young athlete sporting the Gardin logo. I became good friends with Curt Harnett at that time as he was Gardin’s big name athlete for many years.

I will for ever be grateful to Joe Gardin. Whether out on my bike or motorpacing athletes by his house, I’ll be sure to say a prayer for him and his family.

——

Visitations are at the Turner & Porter ‘Neweduk’ Chapel, 1981 Dundas St. W. (1 block east of Erin Mills), Mississauga on Friday, March 6, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, 2340 Hurontario St. on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 10 a.m. Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Joe’s memory are appreciated by his family.