George “Pete” Gardella III, age 60, died at the University of Michigan Medical Center on Saturday, October 8, 2022. He was born on October 3, 1962 in Detroit, Michigan.
Pete grew up in Grosse Pointe Farms and graduated from Grosse Pointe South High School in 1981. He then received his bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Michigan in 1985. While at the University of Michigan, he was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity. In 1989 Pete graduated with his Master’s in Business Administration from Wayne State University.
Pete then worked at many different organizations before he ended up at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for the past 26 years.
In his free time, he enjoyed being very active and was known to go on a run every morning. He was an enormous sports enthusiast and enjoyed golfing, biking, and skiing. He also loved traveling and was a big believer in expanding his horizons.
Pete’s favorite pastime was being with his family. He enjoyed playing board games together and being outside.
Pete volunteered with multiple organizations throughout the Royal Oak Community. He was an active member of the Blue Cross Golf League.
Pete is the loving father of Thomas and George Gardella. Dear Fiancé of Debbie Missick. He is further survived by Debbie’s children, Chris and Peter Missick. Beloved brother of Katie (Peter Straus) Gardella, the late Julie L. Gardella, and Paul (Marguerite) Miller. He is also survived by his birth mother, Vita (Mike) Miller. He is predeceased by his parents, George A. Gardella II and Patricia J. Gardella.
Visitation will be on Monday, October 24, from 4-8 p.m. at Chas. Verheyden, Inc., 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park 48230.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, October 25, from 9:30 am until the Funeral Mass at 10 am at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms 48236.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Pete’s name to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation at:
www.cholangiocarcinoma.org