Maruta Gardner

Maruta Rubens Gardner (February 20, 1947 – February 13, 2016) was an American community activist and public school administrator serving in the roles of teacher, vice principal, principal, and assistant superintendent of schools in San Diego County, California who has a City of San Diego half-acre park and playground named after her.

Education and early life Gardner graduated in 1965 from Irvington High School in Irvington, New Jersey. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education in 1969 from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, where she served as president of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Maruta received a Master of Arts in administration and supervision in 1976 from San Diego State University, and a doctorate of education in administration in 1988 from the University of Southern California. teaching school before becoming an administrator, vice principal, a principal at Mission Bay High School, assistant superintendent of the Poway Unified School District, and an instructional leader at the Institute for Learning at San Diego Unified School District. When Gardner retired in 2008, she was the executive director of the San Diego County Office of Education, Juvenile Court and Community Schools. For more than 20 years, Gardner, riding a three-wheeled bicycle, hauled supplies and paint as she pedaled to different spots in the beach area to paint over graffiti in an effort to improve the community. Gardner also was a former president of the Mission Beach Women's Club. At the time of her death, Gardner sat on the City of San Diego's Consolidated Plan Advisory Board.

Fatal crash Gardner died from a severe head injury in February 2016 in what police called a road rage-fueled hit-and-run crash by a drunken driver as Gardner removed graffiti from a beach wall. The driver, Jonathan Domingo Garcia, 23, was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony hit-and-run.

Every November 3 since Gardner's death, residents participate in a beach cleanup as a continuing memorial to her and to honor her dedication to community service.

A large mural, painted on a Mission Bay High School wall by artist John Vallas, was unveiled in Gardner's memory in 2017.

A year after Gardner's death, the City of San Diego began giving an annual Maruta Gardner Excellence in Volunteering Award, presented to a volunteer by a councilmember.

Maruta Gardner Playground San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, at a November 2019 groundbreaking of a $3.4 million renovation of the playground at Mission Bay Park, officially renamed the Bonita Cove Playground after Gardner. The renovated half-acre Maruta Gardner Playground was dedicated by the City of San Diego on Nov. 20, 2020.

Scholarship In 2017, Gardner's Irvington High School class of 1965 designated funds for a Maruta Rubens Gardner Scholarship, which was awarded in a ceremony to graduating senior Ashley Moreno.

Awards Outstanding Educator by the Association of California School Administrators 1988-1989 Distinguished Leader by the San Diego Administrators Association 1989-1990 and 2005-2006 Administrator of the Year in 1990 by the Council of Exceptional Children Woman of Achievement in 2001 by the San Diego Council of Administrative Women in Education Tribute to Women and Industry Honoree 2005 Volunteer of the Year 2003 by the Mission Beach Town Council

Personal life Gardner was married for 50 years to William Gardner, and the couple resided in Mission Beach.