She had been driving to the YMCA for her morning exercise class, suffered severe chest pains, crashed into a fire hydrant which totaled her car, Rockford police and FD took her to the local hospital which handles strokes. Turns out that a torn aorta aneurism caused the stroke and was inoperable. her two sons and mine were able to get to Rockford. Her son in LA managed to arrive just minutes before she expired. That would not have been possible but for Gayles brother who in a widely respected former Chief of Police if Belvedere, IL who picked his nephew up at O'hare and drove him directly to the hospitsal at high speed on I-90.
Gayle, who never messed about in boats untill she married me 22 years ago turned out to be great crew in my Edey & Duff yawl, the TRUE NORTH and them later in our Albin-25, the DuNord. We cruised waters from Maine, to Laguna Madre, to the coast of British Columbia.
Gayle was much loved and admired throughout the Rockford community for her extensive efforts on behalf of community cultural assets, mainly centered on music.
Gayle and I were best friends and deeply in love.