Joseph Anthony Gann

1925 - 2020

Joseph Anthony Gann
December 19, 1925 - November 8, 2020
San Diego
Joseph was born in the fishing port of Gloucester, Massachusetts, on December 19, 1925. He then moved to San Diego in 1926 at the age of one, with his parents Vincent and Nazare, and his two brothers Vincent and Edmond. Joe's sister Lillian was born a few years later. His father built and operated a commercial fishing clipper.While growing up in Point Loma, he attended Cabrillo Elementary, Dana Junior High, and Point Loma High School, where Joe lettered in three sports: Football, Basketball, and Track. Surfing up and down the coast was a weekend activity he loved. Once Joe and two surfer buddies rescued two Navy flyers that parachuted from their burning plane in 1946 off the coast of Oceanside; even then he was a true Hero. He attended San Diego State, where he started as a point guard on the Basketball team. He married his childhood sweetheart Donna Creelman in 1947, and they raised two daughters, Judy Gann and Peggy Gann Abell. But he was a DAD and a role model to so many more than just his own two daughters throughout the years, with his kindness, guidance, and generosity. The family enjoyed trips to Rock Creek, Lake Tahoe, and Mammoth throughout the years. His love of sports continued the rest of his life, with Surfing, Skiing, Sailing and Golf. He shared his passion for sports with his children and grandchildren.Joe started his first job at Security Bank, at 5th and E downtown, in 1945 as an elevator operator and worked his way all the way to Vice President with the guidance and support of Mr. Sutherland. He worked at the bank until he left there in the early 1960s to help manage Famous Market, a grocery store owned by his father as an investment to supply food to all of the San Diego commercial fishing fleet. At sportswriter Jack Murphy's urging to get civic and local business leaders on board, he and his brother Vincent Gann and George Pernicanco invested in the Chargers. They were part of a group of local businessmen as stakeholders that were instrumental in persuading Barron Hilton to move the Chargers from Los Angeles to San Diego in 1961 to play at Balboa Stadium. Joe then entered the fishing business with his brother Edmond and formed their company Caribbean Marine Service Co. Inc.; they soon became successful tuna-fishing fleet owners. During this time as a member of the American Tuna Association, he fought for the tuna industry. Joe went to congress to fight the 200-mile limit, and then in the 1970's, along with Julius Zolezzi, he went to Samoa to facilitate the Fishing Treaty between the United States and Samoa. In the mid-1970s, the first U.S. tuna purse seiners began off-loading tuna from the Western Pacific to American Samoa. He and his brother sold their fleet of 13 tuna seiners in 1974. As Joe always said of the old pole tuna fishing days of his father's generation, "That's when the boats were made of wood, and the men were made of steel."With his business life behind him it was time for fun and retirement at the age of 49. Surfing, skiing, sailing, golf, and traveling kept Joe busy. He loved playing golf at the SDCC and sailing at the SDYC in his PC Chaos and his K43 Gannder. Surfing at Sunset Cliffs or Tourmaline with his buddies and their 1940's music, coffee and donuts, was a morning ritual. Joe couldn't leave fishing behind him for long, he soon had a small swordfishing boat built called the Yellowfin, and off he went swordfish fishing with his best friend, Bud Caldwel. Joe and Donna loved taking trips to visit Judy, Peggy, Michael, and their grandkids Ryan and Allison. They spent their winters in Mammoth Lakes. They loved having visitors, and anyone that stayed at the Gann Haus woke up to Joe's famous bacon and waffle breakfast before hitting the slopes. Joe was even a slalom ski racer for his 50 year age bracket. He skied every day from November to May. Joe eventually invested in a fish restaurant called Ocean Harvest Sea Foods on Old Mammoth Road. After Donna passed away in 1994, Joe met and married Bailee Taylor. Joe and his daughters welcomed Bailee and her daughter Kym into the family. Joe and Bailee spent lots of time playing golf and traveling together. A favorite trip was taking his family to Portugal and showing them his Portuguese roots and family traditions. Dinners out with family and friends was always a highlight. During the last few years, Joe enjoyed drives along Shelter Island and Harbor Island to watch his beloved boats.Joe was definitely a one-of-a-kind. Everyone he met always had something nice to say about Joe Gann.Joe is survived by his wife Bailee Gann, two daughters Judy Gann, Peggy Gann Abell (Michael), grandchildren Ryan Abell (Kristin), Allison Abell Johnson (Seth), step-daughter Kym Taylor, and three great-grandchildren Charlie 10, Theodore 2, and Josephine 5 mos.Donations to Joe's two favorite passions may be made to the following: SDYC Junior Sailing Program and Surfrider Foundation.