Gail Hawkins

1945 - 2023

Gail Hawkins
November 7, 1945 - July 7, 2023
Boise, Idaho - In the afternoon of July 7th, Gail Chandler Hawkins of Boise died peacefully at home surrounded by her family at the age of 77.
Gail was born in November of 1945 to William Reeder "Bill" Chandler and Clair Beatrice Chandler in San Francisco. With older sister Barbara, the family relocated to Beirut, Lebanon, where Gail spent much of her childhood and brother Blaine was subsequently born. She spoke often about the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea along the corniche and the juxtapositions of ancient and modern, East and West, poverty and opulence.
After graduating from American Community School in Beirut, Gail received a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a master's degree in education from George Washington University. Gail spent most of her career in the IT industry, including several years in Seoul, Korea, where her two sons, Glenn and Craig, were born. Coming back to the States, the family relocated to Boise, Idaho, to be close to parents Bill and Clair and brother Blaine. Gail enjoyed a 17-year career with Micron, and finished her working life with the Special Olympics and International Rescue Committee.
Gail explored the freedom and expression of dance as a lifelong passion. She first started dancing as a child in Beirut when her parents were out and she had the apartment to herself, finally able to allow her body to do what it wanted. While she loved folk and traditional dance, such as the Lebanese Dabke, Gail was most inspired by the intuition and personal creativity of improvisational and modern dance, performing with local companies and participating in workshops from luminaries such as Kei Takei. In recent years, Gail found a home with Open Arms Dance Project, performing with her friends on stage and in video since 2011.
Gail also found expression through poetry. "Breathe" and "Acquainted with the Night" from her collection Just Saying were transformed into videos featuring local dancers and artists. An avid reader, Gail was particularly moved by The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, a historical novel about one Armenian community's composure, love, and resistance in the midst of the chaos of war.
With her thoughtfulness and sensitivity, Gail kindled and grew close friendships that lasted decades. She faced life's challenges with grace and determination. Her radiant smile and heartfelt laugh were infectious. Gail's gentle kindness and sincerity touched many.
Gail is preceded in death by her parents and sister Barbara. Survivors include brother Blaine, two sons Glenn and Craig, and cousins Skip, Camilla, and Mary Helen. The family wishes to thank Glenn’s wife Gao Xue, Blaine's fiancé Margaret, our angels at Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Open Arms Dance Project, and our friends Sharon Christoph and Carol Ogburn for their love and support.
The family suggests that memorials be made to Open Arms Dance Project (openarmsdance.org). A Celebration of Life will be held at Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (boiseuu.org), 6200 N Garrett St, Boise, ID 83714 from 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 29th.