On August 21, 2021 Gayle E. Pickhardt (nee Adamecz) beloved wife of Paul J. Pickhardt and devoted daughter of Kay Adamecz and the late Robert Adamecz. Loving sister of Karyn Morgan and her husband Greg, and sister-in-law of Walter Pickhardt and wife Sandy Resnick, Kathy Haver and her husband Dennis, Tom Pickhardt and wife Jane, and the late John Pickhardt and his surviving wife Ann. Loving aunt of Gregory Morgan and wife Jennifer, Jonathan Morgan and his girlfriend Elizabeth Kronander, Ben Pickhardt and wife Sandy, Jeff Pickhardt, Margaret Haver, Ellen Ifft and husband Peter, Carol Barr and husband Ryan, Janet Haver, Joe, Sarah, Emily, Mary, Anne, Clare and PJ Pickhardt. Dear great aunt of Lucas and Zoe Ifft.
Gayle led an extraordinary career as a special educator at The Harbour School. From the day she began in August of 1999, Gayle saw her role as a special educator as one that meets the holistic needs of each individual student. Gayle worked tirelessly to assist each student as seeing him/herself as a learner. Her Technical expertise, especially in reading, is undisputed and many students who had never been successful learned basic literacy skills because of her dedication and talent. During her time at Harbour, Gayle served as a lead teacher, team leader and mentor. When Gayle felt that she could no longer teach to her best ability, she returned to Harbour as an assistant teacher and continued to support her student through direct instruction, as well provide direction and consultation to Harbour’s reading teachers. Gayle’s influence as a special educator goes far beyond in the classroom. Her commitment to each student’s social emotional growth can be found in her work with Girl’s Club, cheerleading, assistance with performing arts shows and making her “Catonsville bus” after sports and clubs so that students who did not have transportation could still participate. Gayle’s influence on the educational lives of students reaches beyond her own classroom. Gayle mentored and coached young staff to develop into teachers who, too, would make an impact on the world. As Dr. Linda Jacobs’, Executive Director, said while honoring Gayle during the June 2021 high school graduation, “Gayle is truly the ‘wind beneath the wings’ of students and staff. Each of the students she has touched is better able to live fully in the community and each staff member she touched is a better professional for her service. In a recent thank you note to Gayle, one parent wrote “Thank you for what you did for our son, for all those kids you taught with grace, competence and love. No one who has been touched by you will ever forget you”. Gayle’s legacy lives on in the many children she taught and the families she supported, however the love and bond she and Paul had with John Cole is part of her legacy known by many in the community.
Gayle is known for her service to others and even during her long battle with cancer Gayle continued to give herself to serve others. After traveling as a malade on a healing pilgrimage to Lourdes with her mother, Kay, and the Order of Malta in 2017, Gayle volunteered to return the next two years to help others on their own healing journeys. She further volunteered to tutor one of those children during the pandemic despite Gayle undergoing chemotherapy at the time. Gayle’s beautiful smile and unconditional love will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know and love her.
Friends and family may call at St. Mark's Catholic Church, Catonsville (the main church) on Thursday, August 26th, from 3 to 7 P.M., where all are invited to attend the Funeral Mass on Friday, August 27th, at 10 A.M.. Interment in New Cathedral Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family request donations in her memory to The Harbour School at Baltimore, 11251 Dolfield Blvd., Owings Mills, MD 21117 OR Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or at www.pancan.org/donate. As per Gayle's wishes, please do not wear black, she said that she wanted to see only happy and bright colors at her funeral.
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