Lasting Memories

Loigene Grace Gendzel
Nov. 24, 1929-July 25, 2013
Cupertino, California
Submitted by Ivan Gendzel

Loi Gendzel was a resident of Palo Alto from 1962 to 2012. She moved to the retirement community at The Forum in Cupertino in May of 2012. Born and raised in New York City, an only child, she graduated from Freeport High School on Long Island and then from Barnard College (Columbia University) in 1951, having majored in political science (international relations). She earned her Master?s in Social Work from the Columbia School of Social Work in 1956 while working at New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center. She married Ivan Gendzel MD, on May 4, 1957. They relocated to San Francisco in 1958 and then lived on the Peninsula and in Oakland before moving to Palo Alto in 1962 moved to Palo Alto. Their son Glen and daughter Amy were raised and schooled there. Active in PTA, the 4H, and school enrichment programs, Loi later taught Oriental Brush Painting at Avenidas (Palo Alto Senior Center) for thirty years and was an active volunteer with UNA ? USA, serving on the Board and helping to set up the Library and Information Center. Loi and Ivan traveled extensively (frequently with their young adult children) during the 1980s and 1990s. Because of increasing heart problems, she was scheduled for heart surgery in August, but died suddenly at home. Loi is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ivan Gendzel of Cupertino; son Glen Gendzel, his wife Colleen Hamilton, and their children (Joelle & Louis), of San Jose; daughter Amy Taylor, her husband John Taylor, and their children (Grace and Jackson) of Everton, England (UK); and sister-in-law Sue Ezekiel and her husband George Ezekiel, of Oakland, and their two sons (Dan & Jack) and their families. Loi was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who doted on her family. She was also a gifted artist and musician who loved teaching and sharing these interests with her students and fans. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.