Gayle Lofthus
1945-2026
In Loving Memory
Gayle Lofthus lived her life with energy, generosity, and joy. She wanted the people around her to be happy, and she had a remarkable gift for helping them become so. Whether through encouragement, laughter, a batch of homemade cookies, a bag of avocados from her trees, or simply her genuine interest in their stories, she made people feel seen, valued, and loved.
Born in Inglewood, California, Gayle spent her childhood and early years in Southern California as the middle child in a family of four sisters and one brother.
After graduating from Ramona High School in Riverside, she attended Riverside City College, where she earned Dean’s List honors, before continuing her education at Loma Linda University. There she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. She stood out for both her intellect and determination, eventually earning the affectionate title of “the best student in the family”
In 1962, after marrying Bruce Lofthus, they moved to Isla Vista, and they had their first child, before later returning to Riverside, where they welcomed their second child. In 1972, they returned to Santa Barbara, and the community became her cherished home. Gayle worked for many years as a dental hygienist in Glen Hemingway’s office, where patients appreciated not only her professionalism and skill, but also her warmth and easy conversation. She first met Marilyn Fowkes in that dental chair and they became life-long family friends.
Athletics were another arena in which Gayle excelled. Family members readily acknowledged her as the finest athlete among them. She discovered her love for tennis in the 1970s and began lessons with John Kinsella at the Santa Barbara Municipal Tennis Courts. What began as a passion soon became an impressive competitive career. Partnering with Sinclair Bill, she won the Santa Barbara Open in 1985. She later won the Southern California Sectional 45s age division championship twice—once with Sinclair and once with her sister, Annalee Hanson.
One of Gayle’s greatest demonstrations of courage and determination came after her breast cancer diagnosis in 1989. She refused to let cancer define her, continuing to play tennis throughout her treatment. She and her tennis friends fondly laughed about the day her hairpiece flew off and landed on the court during a match—a reflection of her remarkable ability to find humor even in difficult times.
While undergoing chemotherapy, Gayle also studied for and passed the California real estate examination. She began her real estate career with Pitts and Bachman before joining Village Properties, where she worked until her retirement around 2015.
As a mother, Gayle had a simple but powerful hope for her daughters: that they would grow into happy, independent, and confident women. She encouraged them to face life with courage, always believing in their ability to succeed.
She approached being a grandmother with equal enthusiasm and purpose. Her three grandsons and two granddaughters knew without question that Grandma Gayle loved them deeply and wanted to be an active part of their lives. She traveled to Northern California and Australia to celebrate milestones and share everyday moments with them. Family friend Jane Haberman once remarked that Gayle had created the model of what a devoted grandmother could be, inspiring many of her peers.
To her nieces, she was simply “Auntie Gayle”—an advocate, confidante, and champion.
Gayle loved movement and activity. She loved to dance, to play tennis, and to bake. She loved her avocado trees almost as much as she loved giving away their fruit. Sharing—whether cookies, avocados, or a dose of encouragement—was simply part of who she was. Gayle often turned her kitchen into a dance floor, followed by serving up her famous apple pie (a la mode!).
She enjoyed people and found them endlessly interesting. Conversations with strangers often became friendships, and acquaintances often became lifelong companions. She had boundless energy, as Larry Falberg once said, “If Gayle was a ride at Disneyland, she would have been an E-Ticket.”
And, because she would appreciate complete honesty, Gayle also had a few favorite indulgences: an occasional trip to the casino (with thanks to Doug Fowkes) and her beloved evening cocktail (with grateful acknowledgment to Jim Beam).
More than any title or accomplishment, Gayle will be remembered for the happiness she carried with her and the happiness she created for others. Her legacy lives on in the family she loved fiercely, the friends she cherished deeply, and the countless people whose lives are brighter because of her.
Gayle was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and was so grateful for the care and kindness she received at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, UCLA Health Santa Barbara Care, and Goleta Valley Radiology Department.
Gayle suffered the loss of her first-born, Andrea Peterson, in 2023 to ALS. She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years, Bruce Lofthus; her daughter, Janelle Lofthus; her sons-in-law, Jim Peterson and Dean Hodgson; and her grand kids, Jack, Mitchell, and Joe Peterson, and Daley and Taylor Hodgson, who brought immeasurable joy to her life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care (VNA), the ALS Association, or another charitable organization of choice in Gayle’s memory.
