WAYNE – Bonnell Tappen Covert Gardner, 62, a resident of Wayne, died suddenly at his home on Tuesday, July 29. He also maintained a residence in West Palm Beach, Fla., was a retired private school teacher and active collector and dealer of books and art.

He was born on Long Island, N.Y., on July 26, 1946. His parents were Elizabeth Tappen and Alan Gardner of New York City. He graduated from the Buckley School in New York, The Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He also held a master’s degree in education from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

Prior to his retirement from teaching, he taught English at The Hill School and Gould Academy in Bethel. During his tenure at Gould, he and his wife, Jean, who survives, maintained residences in Wayne, Bethel and Farmington.

He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, the Lake Androscoggin (Maine) Yacht Club, the Augusta (Maine) Country Club and the Four Arts Library of Palm Beach, Fla.

In recent years, he concentrated on his ever-expanding collection of rare books and prints. He regularly attended and participated in book conferences and conventions up and down the East Coast and was widely acknowledged as a major collector of 20th Century American Literature and 19th and 20th Century prints and paintings, including original works by such well known Maine artists as Neil Welliver and Jill Hoy.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents.