Gail Beryl Epstein (nee Kufferman) was born in Newark, New Jersey to Frances and Norman Kufferman.

She passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 at 14:36. With her loving daughter, by her bedside holding her hand. 

Gail was a trailblazer and a maverick. She dared to do things that were out of the ordinary.  She was fiercly independent and was a true feminist role model for her youngest daughter Darra whether she knew it or not! 

Leaving New Jersey for California at age 10, Gail had an early fascination with art and painting, yet it lingered unexplored until she was a teenager. In Los Angeles, she attended Fairfax High School where she had an opportunity to major in art. Gail finally had the chance to discover why the idea of painting had so beguiled her in her earlier childhood.

Her teen years culminated with marriage at 19, and by 22, she was a busy mother and wife. She imagined, as did many young women during the early 1950s, that her life was complete. Despite this, she longed to further develop her skills in painting and learning more about art. Unfortunately, the expectations and complications of being a wife and mother posed a challenge for Gail.

Eventually, circumstances led to the dissolution of her marriage and the challenge of being a single parent. Even so, her desire to pursue artistic understanding did not wane. Gail attended art classes at UCLA, Otis Art Center, and private lessons with accomplished artists. She managed her time deftly while running her own business and raising her children.

Having spent time contributing to what is now a large body of work, she worked on her art primarily for the sheer pleasure of accomplishment. Her career an artist include portraiture, still life, abstract, and figurative works in oil, acrylic, collage, and mixed media.

Gail continued working in her home studio in Houston, Texas and expressing herself up until November 2023, when she put down her brushes for the last time. 

 For now her studio remains in situ at her daughter’s home in Houston and her daughter, Darra may even pursue what Gail had often urged her to do, and pick up painting as well.

Gail, will be missed. Her laughter, her bravery, her moxie and her generous loving heart. Her brisket too!

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/gail-epstein/obituary/

Copy