Donald P. Gamble Jr. was born on December 22, 1923 and had great joy in rattling off the 1.2.2.2.2.3 numbers. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and died January 17, 2014 in Monterey, California surrounded by family. His wife of over 64 years, Marilyn S. Gamble, died three weeks earlier. He was predeceased by his parents, Donald P. Gamble Sr, and Edith Schibsby Gamble. He is also predeceased by his brother Douglas Schibsby Gamble, half-brother, David Franklyn Gamble, and step sister Cynthia Tearse. He is survived by his children, Kim Marriott (Harry Aldrich), Don Gamble, and Larry Gamble (Marigrace), and his six sweet grandchildren, Duncan Marriott (Stacie), Alex Marriott (Stephanie), Ben Marriott, Grace Gamble, Kimberly Gamble, and Nicolas Gamble who always appreciated his taste in desserts. He is also survived by four great grandchildren, Trevor and Halie Marriott, and Simon and Marilyn Marriott.
He was raised in Minneapolis until the age of ten then spent the school year at Peacock Military Academy in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated in 1941. He enjoyed all his summers in Minnesota engaged in summer activities, particularly sailing, on Lake Minnetonka. Throughout his life, he was a great sportsman participating in competitive sailing, competitive swimming, and lettered in basketball. He enjoyed skiing, tennis, paddle tennis, and bowling on the Snoboy team.
He attended Williams college, was a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity and graduated in three years due to officer training program in preparation for military duty in WWII. He was a naval officer on a destroyer in the Pacific during WWII. After the war, he attended Stanford University receiving his MBA in 1948. While at Stanford, he met Marilyn Smith at a Moffet Field dance. They were married in June of 1949 in Seattle. They moved to 7 different small towns in the Midwest before settling in Wayzata, MN to raise their three children.
Don joined the family business, working long hours to become a leader who helped build Pacific Gamble Robinson Company based in Minneapolis and Seattle. The company was founded in Minneapolis in 1894 and expanded to over 100 operations in several states and provinces of Canada. His younger brother, Doug, after finishing Peacock Academy, followed Don to Williams, Stanford, and into the family business. Don was an active member of Woodhill Country Club, Minneapolis Club, Minnetonka Yacht Club as a past Commodore, and Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club as a board member. He was the financial director for Midwest area for the foundation for Global Community, advocating for social justice, peace, and population control. He died a Democrat, yet was a card-carrying Republican. Don served on the board of the Produce Marketing Association. He and Marilyn were active in many cultural, charitable and civic groups.
After retirement and ten more Minnesota winters, they built a charming beach house on the dunes overlooking Monterey Bay. They were active restoring native plants, sailing, golfing, playing with grandchildren, and renewing friendships and Stanford classmates. They loved their new neighborhood, and community. They joined Saint Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church where they were active members participating as ushers. Don was on the finance committee and was a member of COPA which was involved in social justice issues. He will always be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. We will miss his gentle spirit, extremely dry sense of humor, love of chocolate, and his sure hand at mixing Old Fashions.
“There are good ships, and wood ships. The ships that sail the seas,
but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.”
Irish toast
Services will be held Friday, January 24 at 10:30 at Saint Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Pacific Grove, Ca.
Donations may be made in his honor to:
Coastal Kids Home Care, 1172 South Main St. #125, Salinas, CA 9390
Arrangements under the direction of The Paul Mortuary, Pacific Grove, CA.
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