Donald M. Gardner, transportation specialist

Donald M. Gardner, 90, a retired civilian transportation specialist with the Navy who was a professional musician in his younger years, died Dec. 22 at Arcola Health and Rehabilitation Center in Silver Spring. He had Alzheimer's disease.

Donald Marvin Gardner, a Washington native, began playing trombone when he was 9. He was in a police boys' club band that marched in the inauguration parade of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.

Mr. Gardner was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in the District and the old Benjamin Franklin University.

He played trombone in several D.C. area bands and, in the early 1940s, toured as a member of the Charlie Spivak's big band.

Mr. Gardner joined the Army in 1942 and spent World War II as a member of the Air Transport Command band, entertaining troops and performing on radio and in hospitals. In Paris during World War II, he performed with jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

In 1946, Mr. Gardner began working for the Navy's Military Sealift Command, where he maintained transportation records of troops and ships. He retired in 1975.

In retirement, Mr. Gardner renewed his early interest in music and performed as a member of the Rockville Brass Band for 25 years. He was a member of the Washington Federation of Musicians and was a longtime barbershop quartet singer.

He had lived in Silver Spring since the 1940s and was a choir member at the old Wheaton Presbyterian Church, where he also taught adult Sunday school classes.

A son, Robert Gardner, died in 1970 when his helicopter was shot down during the Vietnam War.

Mr. Gardner's survivors include his wife of 69 years, Lillian Grillo Gardner of Silver Spring; three sons, Ronald Gardner of Medford, Ore., Steven Gardner of Gaithersburg and Paul Gardner of Bel Air, Md.; a brother; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

- Matt Schudel