Peter John Gardner, 45, of Orlando, Florida, passed away on January 19, 2026. He was born on January 12, 1981, in Glen Cove, New York.

Peter was an editor in the insurance industry and worked with Everest BCG (Building Consulting Group), a role well suited to his sharp intellect, love of language, and natural talent for writing. Words mattered deeply to him. He was an excellent writer and had a keen ear for grammar and sentence structure. Those who knew Peter will fondly remember his habit of gently interjecting with "excuse you," before correcting a sentence and moving on—never unkind, simply true to who he was.

Peter had a deep and abiding love for music in all its forms. No genre was off limits, and music was a constant presence in his life, offering both inspiration and comfort.

He is survived by his mother, Lynn Patten, and her husband, John Patten, of Vero Beach, Florida, and his father, John Gardner, of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by his brother, Robert Gardner, and his wife, Regina, of Dallas, Texas; his three beloved nephews, Brooks, Davis, and Jameson; his stepbrother, Jay Patten; his stepsister, Julie Scott; his uncle, Robert M. Perez, of Ocala, Florida; and his lifetime best friends, Erin & Nathan Allen, Abel Cabral and Lauren Carrol, who were family to him in every way that mattered.

Peter will be remembered for his intelligence, his love of words and music, his wit, and the quiet, distinctive way he made his mark on those around him.