Laguna Beach Poet Dies With Beloved Dog At His Side

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A collision and probable medical emergency on Laguna Canyon Road took the life of a Laguna Beach resident and poet, StuNews has said.

John Gardiner suffered an apparent heart attack and crashed his vehicle, it was reported. His beloved Australian shepherd was with him at the time of the crash.

The crash was reported at just after 8:30 a.m., according to Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jim Cota.

"A driver noticed that a car was weaving while driving at normal speeds on south Laguna Canyon Road near El Toro Road," Cota said. "A witness told police that the car crashed on the side of the road."

According to reports, emergency responders believe Gardiner had a medical emergency prior to the crash, though the nature of the emergency was unknown as of this report.

Gardiner's dog was with him in the car at with him at the time of the crash, and the dog was uninjured, according to Cota. Gardiner was taken to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, where he was pronounced deceased.

Gardiner was a longtime resident of Laguna Beach and area poet. He was in his 70s, born in Manhattan Beach, the son of a World War II fighter pilot, one of six siblings. His great-grandmother, Mary Hallock Foote, was a renowned illustrator and author. He had no children of his own, according to StuNews. According to StuNews, Gardiner was a dramatist, teacher, activist and author of 12 books of poetry, but it was performing those poems that was his true love.

"When John reads his poems aloud, which he loves to do, his voice is a melodic baritone, his language measured and precise, and his enthusiasm infectious. He can’t help himself from stopping every so often to say, 'Let me read you another,'" StuNews reporter Marrie Stone wrote. "And when he does you can only sit in awed silence, knowing something magical is happening, then and there."

Gardiner was a regular performer of local poetry readings, workshops and slams in Laguna Beach, as well as a performer in the Shakespearean show, "Shakespeare's Fool." On his Facebook page, Gardiner claimed he was a student of The Universe of Haight Ashbury in the 1960s.

In a recent interview with StuNews, Gardiner was asked about his greatest accomplishment, which he answered: "I hope it hasn't happened yet."

Gardiner will be missed by those who knew him and loved his creative energy and love of the great unknown.

His books remain on sale at Laguna Beach Books.

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