Gary was always welcoming people in. Into the club; into his apiary; and into his home. I only knew him for three years; Gary was always thoughtful and kind to new friends and long-time buddies. He loved our Bee club. - Jaci Kildare

I wouldn’t be a beekeeper except for Gary. I was introduced to Gary by my husband, who’d known him for many years. Sometime in the 90s during a visit to Gary and Joan’s home in Pleasant Hill, Gary brought out an observation hive and talked about honeybees. I remember being intrigued—but that was all. Ten years later, after I’d been adopted by a swarm, I remembered that Gary talked about a group called MDBA. I joined and got to know Gary better. I’ve never met such a warm, insightful, funny, authentic, generous, kind, and loving person. You could feel discouraged or sad but after talking with Gary, your spirits were lifted. He just had that effect on people. He was also an expert at gently persuading people to volunteer: to teach honeybee classes to children, serve on the MDBA Board, and help out at Bee Day. He would suddenly appear at your elbow with his eyes twinkling as if he were about to share a secret, and he’d make his pitch. It was impossible to say ‘no’ to Gary. He enjoyed operating behind the scenes, sizing up the needs of the situation, and then finding the right individuals with the right skills to match. He showed how to find joy in the routines of life. There will never be another one like him. - Jan Pinkerton Spieth

We both felt that Gary was an extraordinary man. He was so very inclusive and welcoming to us all, whether it be at one of his bee workshops or in the context of a bee meeting. He had the most wondrous smile and his warmth came from within and reached out to everyone. We enjoyed the workshops in his yard, where he and Joan opened their home and wonderful property to us all. He created a sense of togetherness for curiosity, learning, and fun. He will be missed very much. We are so grateful to have been able to know him and spend time with him and feel his positive energy. Nancy Goodmiller, Ken Rankin

Generous, kind, warm, and thoughtful. Caring, attentive, wise, soft-spoken and gentle. For the little time I was fortunate to have spent with Gary, he embodied these traits and did so with grace enveloped by his bright, ear-to-ear smile that would light up your day! When you spoke to him, he was always in the moment, with unwavering attention, and truly heard you - the rare kind of hearing that wasn't clouded by leaping ahead to formulate a response, but actually, the cherished kind that mindfully listens to everything you have to say. Gary will be missed for all that he did for the club, but the real loss is the farther reaching impact he had on our lives - a mark we will forever carry forward in his honor. - Roger Billeci

I met Gary over 30 years ago. I knew a man, Russ, who lived near Gary. Russ asked me if anyone wants chickens. Now, I grew up in the Central Valley; we had dairy cows, chickens pigs, etc. It was all about food, agriculture, and living on the land. So, I asked how much the chicken was and he told me “It’s free! I called the phone number, it was Gary! Gary raised chickens and sold the eggs, but when it came to dealing with roosters or old hens, he just couldn’t kill them. I met Gary, got 4 chickens, went home, and butchered them. Those chickens led to a glass of wine with Gary. Then he brought out some mead to try. Gary had honey bees too. I always wanted to learn beekeeping. Growing up we had beekeepers overwinter their hives on our clover. Russ, who was about 80, gave me his bees - he said ‘Need young eyes’, meaning good eyesight to see the bees. That first year I harvested 21 gallons of honey. So I went to Gary’s for help making mead. Stan Thomas was also involved in that. After mead, we made wine. Some of it was good, depending on the year, but I poured a lot of wine down the drain in Gary’s basement. Gary loved children and loved to teach them about honeybees. He took me to elementary schools where I watched him teach honeybee classes. Every year he took his observation hive to the Boy Scout camp in the redwoods of Moraga. Gary would set the bees up in the grove and give honeybee classes to the scouts over several days. He did this for years. Gary loved opera—I went with him to the city, sometimes just Gary and me, and other times Joan attended, Every Tuesday, Gary went to San Francisco. I’d see him drive down Taylor at 10 or 11 am; I'd look at my watch and say ‘oh, it’s Tuesday.’ Gary had so many different sides to his life, so many facets. He attended French Conversation classes in the city for many years. Eventually, the instructor couldn’t continue to teach, so Gary took her place and led the class so the group could continue. Through Gary, I met so many good people at the Bee Club Gary loved the bee club, it was a great group. Gary was just a wonderful person. - - Larry Areias

Gary was one of the key members that made me decide to join MDBA. Gary was always all smiling and welcoming. If there was anyone who ever looked for the good in folks it was Gary. He will be missed. - Dermot Jones President Mt. Diablo Beekeepers Assn.

One of my fondest memories as a new beekeeper was showing up for my first meeting and looking at this huge room with what seemed like 100 people, and Gary meeting everybody at the front door. He kind of took me under his wing and educated me on Bees and I’ll never forget it. - Mike Kremer

Gary was instrumental in getting me up and running as a beginner. I had lots of questions at my first hive dive in his backyard. I think he dummied down and gave me answers I could understand. While there I met Norm and Joanne. Subsequently, I realized how important Gary’s generosity and knowledge were to me and others in Mt. Diablo Bee Assoc. Thank you. - Raydon Shippey

Gary was always someone who encouraged me to engage, whether it was in the apiary with the bees, or volunteering with MDBA Community Education as an educator and then as a Board Member. Long before I had confidence in myself, he believed I had enough of what it would take. He never expected perfection, and saw mistakes as necessary steps to learning - sometimes hard when it involved dead bees! Always upbeat, always curious, and always sincerely helpful - he was such an asset to MDBA. - Ellen Walters

I undertook beekeeping with some trepidation. I wondered whether I could do it and whether I could stick to it. Every so often at MDBA meetings, I would ask Gary a question. He was generous with his answers. I attended the training sessions at his home. I learned more than just about bees from Gary. I saw the generosity of spirit and hospitality from both Gary and his spouse. They both teach all of us how to exist in this world of humans and bees. - Leonard Slootmaker

I was new to beekeeping when I first met Gary. He welcomed me and shared with me some of his knowledge about starting my first hive. He gave me a foundation frame that had wax on it telling me this will give the bees a good start. He was very friendly and helpful and a very nice man. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.  - Patty Vanwert

I joined the club in early 2015 and met Gary who had a way of pulling you into things. I learned a lot about bees from Gary but also his gentle way of exposing you to new things. He was a mentor and a friend who inspired me into beekeeping and winemaking. I continue to use the winemaking equipment he sold me today. I will always remember his kindness, generosity, and infectious smile.- Russ Barretta 

I didn’t know Gary very well but I did spend a couple of hours with him one afternoon recently. He reflected on some of the places he had lived and visited and I was amazed at where his life had taken him and the things he had accomplished. Without a doubt, beekeeping has been a major focus for him over the past decades. He and his wife have volunteered their house and hives for many MDBA activities that it’s hard to count. Gary has not just been a leader and a mentor but has mentored the mentors. There are few people who we meet in our lives that really want to be of service and show it in everything that they do. I hope that when my life ends others will say that I have left a legacy half as meaningful as the one that Gary has left us. Rest in peace Gary - Pete Kritscher

Gary Lawrence- Community Education Board Member and Mentor Gary was working at Safeway back in the early 70s and was friends with my husband who also worked there. When we were moving to Oregon and soon to have our first child in early February 1971, Gary created and presented us with a  humorous booklet as a gift for our “Aquarian Oregonian”. Our son still treasures that booklet to this day! Gary continued sharing his happy and creative energies through the Bee Assn. for years, to the benefit of everyone who knew him. Such a treasure of a man. - Diane Wilde

In 2006, a member of MDBA helped me hive a swarm that had landed in my neighbor's hedge. With his recommendation, I joined MDBA to learn about honey bees. At the first few meetings, Gary greeted me with his warm smile and friendly handshake. He suggested that I consider becoming the secretary of MDBA which I did. I like to tease that I am still the secretary and it is all Gary's ‘fault'. - Lois Kail

Gary welcomed me to beekeeping with open arms and an open home, as he did with every one of us. I will always remember the first board meeting I attended in his home when Gary leaned over with a twinkle in his eye and told me that drinking red wine was a requirement of membership. That set the tone for my truly enjoyable association with the club and the welcoming people I found there. Gary was generous, spirited, and a true humanitarian. - Janet Kaidantzis

I will never forget the first time I met Gary in 2006. It was at his house when he had opened up his apiary for the Lamorinda 4H beekeeping group that my 3 daughters had just joined. It was the 1st time I or my kids had seen a bee hive from the inside. Mesmerizing. And while the leader of our group was going through Gary’s hives, I couldn’t help but think how generous Gary was for allowing kids he didn’t know to inspect, manipulate and work his bees. After the meeting ended, Gary and I got to talking and then he offered me a beer and took me into his wine cellar, and showed me the wine-making operation he had going. I left that day thinking I had met the kindest person in the world, and, after getting to know him over the last 16 years, I now know I met the kindest person in the world. - Mike Vigo

Back in the mid to late 90s, the time was coming in the club to nominate someone for president. Gary singled me out, approached me and I told him no way in "a blank" would I be president but he coerced me 

and talked me into it. I was President for 3 years and had an awesome time and met some wonderful people, our current president remembers, as Jan was a board member as well.

Without Gary's coercion I would have missed out on a great experience in my life, he will be missed. 

- Rick Kautch

We all strive to be the best person we can.  For Gary Lawrence, there was no striving, he was the best!

I have had the honor of knowing Gary for over 25 years. He was one of the first members of the MDBA I met, and in perfect Gary form he was trying to recruit for any and all jobs; to get me involved! Gary always had his hands in so many pies in our club and other organizations. He was a dedicated, committed and generous soul. Gary was instrumental in laying the foundation for our club to install the observation hive inside the Lindsay Wildlife Museum. His tenaciousness and persistence paid off. He worked tirelessly to educate both young and old alike about the wonderful world of bees. Gary and Joan gave their hearts, and opened their home to all of us for bee day, and so many other events and meetings. One of my many fond memories is when Gary found out that my family made wine in the old country, and he decided that I was some sort of expert. Sadly, I’m not but I went with it and spent many an afternoon after bee events drinking Gary’s homemade wine in the small basement and soaking up his stories of travel, life experiences, and chickens.  These brief words cannot express the gratitude and respect my family and I

have for such an extraordinary friend. He will live in our hearts, and we are all better people for knowing him. May his memory be eternal. - Mike Stephanos

I was so lucky to know Gary at Safeway.  Working with him on our Supply Lines newspaper was one of the top highlights during my time there.  He was up-beat, ever-smiling, erudite, so knowledgeable on many, many subjects, but not lording it over anyone.  I can still hear his laugh.  My wishes go out to his family & many friends at this time.  May god bless & comfort you.  Rest in peace, Gary.