John Gabriel

John Gabriel was my brother. John was married to my sister April Toma for many years, and their son Graham is my nephew. Before April passed away earlier this year in 2022 of ovarian cancer, at my request she penned John's obituary. I made a few additions, and asked their longtime friend Ed Scheffler to help me fill in a few gaps that April noted. Although not all gaps were filled, in noticing that very little information had been posted about John's life, I decided to post it here, so...

John was my mentor and friend. He saw the good in people and the good in me. I miss him very much.

He was my Jonny guitar in mirtos crete, greece, together with his friend Ed from california!
My empathy for both of them. Me sad! John was already suffering with his cancer....but we drank raki with Joy & laughing. There in mirtos, as well talking about his sickness.. John: " i am not afraid of dying..."
Barbara, mirtos, crete

John, It was a pleasure sharing food and wine and thoughtful conversation first in Boston, then San Francisco, later Chicago and finally in Greece. Thankyou

It was an honour to have met John through our good friends Graham and Bronwyn Hainey. We spent beautiful days on the beach with him in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. He loved Australian beaches as much as we love them. We spent many hours talking when we visited him and also via email, WhatsApp etc John lived his life the way many people wished they could. We are so glad that he had such special times in Australia and Greece. We will miss John so much but we are so glad that he is...

We met in London 1978; Travelled to see you and April in San Francisco 1981; Many wonderful letters back and forth until we met again in Vermont 1994 for our very first white Christmas; Then not again until your Gold Coast visit 2012; And then from 2014 you became our "neighbour" living here on and off five more times until 2019, overlooking your beloved Mighty South Pacific where you could swim everyday all year round! It was only the lure of Greece that would always drag you away!