Gary Edwin Thornton's Obituary
A Mayflower Descendent, Son of the Golden West, and Son of the American Revolution
Gary Edwin Thornton
August 28, 1930 - February 14th, 2023
On St. Valentine’s Day, Gary Edwin Thornton passed away.. Born in Oakland, California on the 28 of August, 1930, he was 93 years of age.
Gary came to Kihei, Maui, Hawaii in 1973. Up until last summer, Gary took a morning swim at Kamaole Beach Park 1 every day. He was an athlete throughout his life; swim team at Washington High School in San Francisco and football at San Jose State, where he earned a master’s degree in physical education. Throughout his adult life he was an avid tennis player. I recall our house decorated with multiple trophies.
In addition to his athletic prowess, Gary was a high school teacher. He taught History and coached the football and swimming teams at Leuzinger High School in Los Angeles. Once he moved to Kihei, he gave private tennis lessons in the courts at Kalama Park and was a substitute teacher at Hana High School.
He was an avid reader and a very intelligent man. His ancestors include many significant characters from multiple chapters in American history, including, Steve Hopkins, a Mayflower passenger, John and John Quincy Adams, both presidents, and Isaac Foster, who fought in the Revolutionary War. His great grandfather, John Adams Foster came to California in 1849, making Gary a 4th generation Californian.
Gary loved music. In his final weeks he listened to the song, Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks. Gary would sing the lyrics, ‘“We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun, but the stars we could reach were just starfish on the beach. All our lives we had fun, we had seasons in the sun, but the wine and the song like the seasons have all gone…”
Gary had four children with his first wife, Barbara Melzer Thornton, who passed away in 1984 at the young age of 50 years after a short battle of breast cancer. . Barbara Melzer Thornton raised four intelligent and beautiful children. During Gary’s final days, Gary attributed the success of his children to Barbara Melzer Thornton, stating, “Barbara must have been a remarkable woman to have raised such successful children.”. All four children live in California. Additionally, he Gary leaves six grandchildren.
Though Gary was from California, he made Kihei his home for 51 years. Mahalo nui loa Kihei for welcoming him and providing him a home that he loved.
He kehau ho ‘oma ‘em ‘eke aloha. A hui ho.
Authored by Kyle Richared Thornton Edited by Kristy Lee Thornton
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