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John Bardi
May 24th, 1947 - September 24th, 2020
May 24th, 1947 - September 24th, 2020
John Francis Bardi died on September 24, 2020 at his home in Ventura, California. He is survived by his wife, Amy, his four children, Ty, Jason, Andy, and Ariel, and his two grandchildren, Georgia and Zack.
John’s lifelong passions were music and teaching. John picked up his first guitar as a teenager. By the time he’d graduated high school, he and his brother, Julian, had released several singles as the “Dagenites” (named after their mother’s hometown of Dagenham, London). John would spend the next six decades playing music, both in bands and as a solo artist, and was well known in his communities as a brilliant guitarist.
The first member of his family to graduate from college, John earned a bachelor's degree from Frostburg State University, a master's degree from the University of Toledo, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Missouri. John would go on to work for the University of Maryland’s overseas program in Japan and the UK, where he taught philosophy to off-duty US service members, as well as Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He spent the final twenty-five years of his teaching career at Penn State’s Mont Alto campus, where his colleagues voted him teacher of the year multiple times before his retirement in 2017. John loved being a teacher, and took immense pride in the number of former students who contacted him over the years to thank him for being such a profound inspiration.
In the late 1990s, John decided to start a cable access TV show on the ACTV public channel in Gettysburg, Pennslyvania. The “John Show,” which ran for over a decade and became a community staple, was an irreverent sci-fi-themed mashup of political commentary, philosophy, and rock guitar. In 2018 he published a novel, "Conversations with a Philosopher from Another Planet," which he based on the key themes and concepts from the John Show. Prior to his death, John had been brainstorming how to bring the show back on YouTube.
For those of us who knew him, it’s impossible to capture what he was about in a few paragraphs. But we’re hoping this site will allow us to collect everyone’s memories in one place so that we can, collectively, begin to tell the story of the legendary John Bardi.
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Tributes
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Cb
Just came across this one too...Circa June 1965 (per date on back of photo).
Cb
Just found this in a box of photos...JB as my sight-seeing guide!
Cb
John is my first cousin. His father and my father are brothers. I guess you could say I am John's Long-Lost cousin. I was born and raised in the "Mon Valley", about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pa. JB, as we called him, would come back to visit us frequently, as this was the area where John's father was raised as well. John's grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins all resided here. Being that I am 13 years John's junior, I was very impressionable with him. I was in awe of his personality and wisdom...And his guitar! The highlight of John's trip was him putting on a "concert" in our living room, jamming what seemed to be all night long. On one particular visit, he introduced the family to a "strobe" light! What craziness ensued, as I remember John dancing out of control in order to give us the full "strobe-light experience"! On another visit a few years later, John happened to be home as I was graduating High School. During the visit, John "disappeared" to his bedroom for a while, only to emerge with the BEST GRADUATION GIFT EVER! He wrote an ever-so-cool poem for me, highlighting my life! I remember him referring to me as a "fancy dancing machine" in the poem, knowing my friends and I frequented an under-21 disco club. I think John knew full well I pretended to like dancing so I could meet all the pretty young ladies! And lastly, another fond memory I have was the time John graduated from Frostburg State - I remember him wearing a tee shirt and jeans under his graduation gown! Needless to say, John's attire didn't go over too well with his father as John's grandmother and other family members were in attendance! But that's what made John, John...His unique personality. Oh my, so many good memories of him! I miss him dearly and regret not keeping in touch with him later in life. The last time I saw John was at our cousin's funeral here in the Mon Valley. Looking back to that day, I'll cherish the time we spent catching up with each other, not realizing it would be our last. Rest well JB.
Cb
Here's another one...Taken in the game room of John's parents house.
Jv
I was a former student of Professor Bardi at Penn State, WE ARE PENN STATE! He was my favorite professor. We had some really great in depth conversations about reasoning/thought process, psychology and philosophy. I always loved going to his office hours to ask a question about one thing and end up have thought provoking and meaningful conversations. He really allowed me to explore on a deeper level and for that I will forever be so greatful! Thank you so much Bardi! It's because of Teachers/Professors like you that really make a big change and impact on those around you. Thank you an infinite amount! Rest in peace!
Jonathan Musgrove
I heard of John my entire life. My dad was the singer of the band The Dagenites, jimmy musgrove. I got to meet John i think 2009 or 2010 at a class party my dad threw. John and his brother Julian were so kind to me. I attempted to keep in touch over the years but my father passed, i became a parent and then I heard Julian had passed and now speaking to a friend about Philosophy, John came up and now he has passed. I regret not talking more with him but the short meeting and brief email exchange is definitely something i shall cherish for my life. The stories i heard about the Bardi brothers were true. They were amazing musicians but even better people to know.
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