The Honorable James Knoll Gardner, 76, of Emmaus, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, died April 26, 2017, after two and a half years tenaciously battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was the husband of Linda (Klenk) Gardner.

He was known for his resilience, strength of character, loyalty, attention to detail, and dedication to his career as a jurist, for which he possessed an enduring passion for his work on the Federal bench.

He could be spotted cruising around Allentown listening to the tunes of Miles Davis in his red BMW convertible, likely on his way from the bench, which he sat on for 36 years (22 years as a Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas judge and 14 years as a United States District Judge) to a tennis match, soccer game, or piano concert to proudly support one of his daughters. Despite the long hours hearing court cases and writing opinions, he never missed dinner with his family.

A clarinetist himself, he could be found listening to the orchestral sounds of the Allentown Symphony, of which he was an active member of the board of directors for 29 years, carrying on the legacy of his late parents who were founding members of the ASA. He was actively involved in the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown; the Police Athletic League; the 15th Congressional District Military Academy Selection Board; Board of Associates for Muhlenberg College; Minsi Trails Council; and the Yale Alumni Schools Committee.

He served on active duty as an officer in the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, (1966-1969) and as a reservist for 24 years from 1969-1993, where he advanced to the rank of Captain and served as an Appellate Military Judge on the United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review in Washington, D.C. Of his many accolades and awards, he received the Meritorious Service Medal from the President of the United States and a Navy Commendation Medal for Heroism.

An avid Boy Scout, he received the distinguished Eagle Scout award. In his youth he attended the International Jubilee Jamboree in Sutton-Goldfield, England (1957), where he played the clarinet with the United States Boy Scouts of America Band, for the Queen of England.

He graduated magna cum laude from Yale University (1962) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the American Studies Honors program, and Harvard Law School (1965) with a Juris Doctorate. From 1965-1966 and 1969-1970, he was an associate with the law firm Duane, Morris & Heckscher, in Philadelphia, as a litigator, and from 1970 - 1981 he was a partner with his father and sister, Audrey Racines, in Gardner, Gardner & Racines. He served as first assistant district attorney of Lehigh County from 1977-1981 and was an assistant district attorney from 1972-1977.

In 1980 he was appointed by former Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh to the Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania. He was elected to a 10-year term and was retained for an additional 10 year term. From 1997-2002, he served a five-year term as president judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County and served a term as the president of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges (1996-1997).

In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed him to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He took great pride in being a federal judge and considered this the greatest achievement of his life.

He was a lifetime member of St. John’s U.C.C., Emmaus, where he taught an adult Sunday school class, and served as a deacon and elder.

He is survived by his wife; daughters, Christine Hanna (children: Alexis and Ainsley); Andrea Merrill (husband, Paul; children, Jacob and Parker); Victoria Misenti (husband, Kyle, children, Leo and Peter); and Stephanie; brother, Theodore R. II; sister, Audrey Racines.

Contributions may be made to Allentown Symphony Association and St. John’s U.C.C., Emmaus.

Arrangements were made by the Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., Emmaus.