James (Jim) Gardner
November 18, 1940 — April 26, 2025
A Champion of the Prader-Willi syndrome community
We in IPWSO were sad to hear of the recent passing of Jim Gardner from Minnesota, USA, a much-valued and longstanding member of the IPWSO community, and husband of our dedicated advisor, Joan Gardner.
The Chair of our Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board, Dan Driscoll, and IPWSO President, Tony Holland, recall Jim’s tireless efforts to support people with Prader-Willi syndrome around the world.
Jim Gardner was a remarkable force in the global Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) community. With tireless dedication and a generous spirit, Jim gave of himself in ways both seen and unseen—leaving a lasting legacy across local, national, and international organizations.
A longtime leader in the Minnesota PWS chapter, Jim was also deeply involved with the PWSA | USA and IPWSO organizations. Whether serving as a board member, treasurer, auditor, or event organizer, Jim’s commitment was unmatched. He offered not only his time and expertise, but also substantial financial support—often given anonymously.
To those who met him, Jim may have seemed to have a tough exterior, but his dry sense of humor and deep compassion were unmistakable. Together with his beloved wife Joan, they were affectionately known as the “dynamic duo.” In 2001, they hosted the IPWSO international conference in St. Paul, Minnesota which is still remembered as one of the most successful gatherings in IPWSO’s history.
Jim served for many years as Treasurer of PWSA | USA and as an auditor for IPWSO, providing critical financial oversight and helping to strengthen these organizations for the future.
He will be profoundly missed. His legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the organizations he helped shape, and the continued dedication of his extraordinary partner, Joan.
Dan Driscoll, Chair of the Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board of IPWSO
It was with great sadness I heard of the death of Jim Gardner. Together with his wife Joan our paths would cross at meetings in the USA and elsewhere in the world. Particularly during my time as President of IPWSO I got to know him and to value his wisdom and his supportive words. Like others have described he had this rather wonderful dry sense of humour and also often different and interesting insights into the challenges IPWSO faced. He appreciated the global inequalities that exist for people with PWS and had a deep sense of justice that I felt informed his thinking and his actions. It was always a pleasure to sit down with him and just chat. I would come away from such occasions with some new insight or a different perspective on whatever it was we had discussed. Thank you, Jim.
Tony Holland, IPWSO President
A memorial service will be held for Jim on Monday, June 2, 2025. We extend our sincere condolences to Jim’s wife of 60 years, Joan, their sons, Jamie and Larry, and all Jim’s family and friends.