REMEMBERING A VALUED MEMBER OF NCGE

Gail Hobbs (right) passed away on Sunday February 8, 2009 after a brief battle with cancer. Gail was a member of the National Council for Geographic Education for over 20 years and served as President in 1999. She was a dear friend to many and will be missed by all.

FORUM POSTINS

02/18/2009--Missing Gail by Osa Brand

Message: Gail was such a caring person. One of her many kindnesses to me, years ago, was so typically Gail. Soon after I arrived at an AAG conference with a broken arm, Gail left the meeting to buy me a gift - a beautiful silk scarf to drape over my cast. She said I would feel better if I looked stylish, rather than handicapped. That was Gail, always thinking of others and always thinking positively. And that came through very clearly the last time we talked. As recently as mid-January, she was concerned about leaving her beloved students for a semester and eagerly planning to return to work as soon as possible.

02/15/2009 --Tora Johnson
GIS Service Center & Laboratory
More than a decade ago, Gail became my enthusiastic ambassador to the world of GIS through the GIS access program. She later served as my mentor when we were building a GIS program at Cape Cod Community College. Ever since, she's been there at zillions of workshops and conferences, always taking time to chat and catch up and reminisce about her visit to Cape Cod when my son was a chubby toddler or the time when I was late on a GIS access project because I'd fallen overboard with my zip disk. It's hard to imagine someone with such enthusiasm and generosity and hope could ever pass from this world. It's a great loss for all of us, and my heart goes out to her son and all her close friends and family. The passing of someone like Gail, and so suddenly and soon, leaves a space in the world that we will all notice.

Poem for Gail Hobbs

Friend To Geography, Friend To Me

2/12/2009 posted by --Joseph Kerski

At every conference, we always found her
Giving encouragement to all who surrounded her
Easy to spot with her orange-red hair
Surrounded by all who sought her out there
Our friend Gail Hobbs from College Pierce
She achieved much, her determination fierce
To form relationships—that’s what she did best
If you knew her too, then you have been blessed
She had a keen heart and eye and ear
To connect those who were far and those near
Far beyond GIS a hand she would lend
Just to make sure everyone had a friend
To help us along on our life’s way
She knew how to listen, she knew what to say
“Oh Joseph,” she would say, with a look most sincere
“I’ve made a GIS breakthrough—look at my screen here!”
Who could forget when as President she gave her
Tribute so touching to her grade school teacher?
Oh that she too could have lived 100 years
But she wouldn’t want us crying these tears
Gail, I wish I could hear just one more of your stories
But you knew that you were bound for much greater glories
So even though, Gail, you are now gone from us
Rest assured that your spirit forever lives on in us.

Cherie Vela--2/11/2009

I worked with Gail for many years as part of CGA. We worked many in-services, trainings, and summer institutes and laughed all the time we were working. We traveled together to Egypt as part of Project Marco Polo, ate octopus in Monamvasia, Greece, shopped, and explored. All the years I knew Gail, sometimes in trying times, I never saw anything but a great big smile on her face. She was always cheerful, helpful, encouraging, and hard working. I remember one time driving from San Bernardino, to the Valley to meet with Charlie Regan, because she had promised to meet with him that day. We had worked all day, driven for four hours in traffic and she was still smiling. She was an inspiration to me and many others. She will be missed. My condolences go out to mom, Steven and Michael. She was proud of her boys. I am sure they were all very proud of her as well.

02/10/09-- Rich Schultz, Elmhurst College

Gail was a good friend of mine and one of my favorite people. Besides being a committed educator and geography ambassador, she was simply a nice person. She always asked about my family before telling me the updates on hers. We shared lots of stories about raising kids and how quickly our kids grow up. Gail always had time to meet for lunch or dinner at conferences and frequently picked up the check even though she didn't have to do that. We frequently marveled at how many Lutheran geographers there were and how many connections there were to Concordia. We shared numerous mutual acquaintances; I felt as though I knew her for a lifetime immediately when we met. I know you'll be there in spirit at the conferences with us, Gail. The geography world lost a one-of-a-kind person in Gail Hobbs, but more importantly the world lost a terrific person. We will remember you forever, Gail.