Biographies - Brenda Gardziel

Brenda Gardziel
is the Director of the Jerry Gardziel Fall Classic, a position she has held since 1995 following the death of her husband, and founder of the Fall Classic, Jerry. Her decision to keep the Fall Classic going was one of the most important decisions she ever made. "Jerry was so excited that so many young people were being seen here, and I knew I had to continue the program. He always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and I think this is a way to carry that tradition on," Gardziel said.

She describes her role with the classic from 1985-1995 as a behind-the-scenes person attempting to take care of logistics. Responsible for the fall classic database, team and player registration, and handling all applications, Mrs. Gardziel allowed her husband to follow through on his ideas for creating one of the premiere showcases for high school baseball players.

A native of Oxford, North Carolina, Mrs. Gardziel graduated from East Carolina College with a BS in Education in 1965. She began her 32-year teaching career with the Prince William County school system in 1965 at Potomac View Elementary School in Woodbridge, Virginia. From 1969-1974 Mrs. Gardziel stayed home raising her children. In July 1974, Gardziel returned to teaching at the Kindergarten level at Neabsco Elementary School in Dale City, Virginia. Mrs. Gardziel taught second grade students at Neabsco from 1978 until 2000 when she retired from teaching.

Maintaining the same sense of community her husband demonstrated throughout his life, Brenda was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Prince William County Park Authority in June, 1995 and today currently holds the position of  Chairwoman. Gardziel was instrumental in garnering support for a bond referendum passed by Prince William County residents in November, 1998 that will be used for improvements to Dumfries Elementary School in Dumfries, Virginia.