John Randolph "JR" Gaulding III

John Randolph (JR) Gaulding III Adored Son, Devoted Brother, Magnificent Friend. JR Gaulding, 27, died on Sunday, June 25th, 2006 in a tragic hiking accident in Lake Tahoe. Born November 9th, 1978, he is the son of John and Rita Gaulding, long-time San Rafael and Newport Beach residents, and the older brother of Matthew Gaulding of Chicago. JR lived and worked in Squaw Valley, CA. He was a managing film editor and producer for a specialized media company, AmericanX. The company is engaged in the development and distribution of video and other products associated with the extreme sports industry. JR received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, widely recognized as one of the finest design schools in the world. Prior to entering Art Center, JR attended Dominican University and graduated from San Rafael High School in 1997. Following his graduation from Art Center, JR worked as a free-lance photographer and production assis-tant in various film and TV projects. Much of his early landscape and portrait technique was developed and refined while shooting the beauty and character of Newport Harbor. His photographs and prints have been exhibited in a number of Los Angeles galleries, and his images are highly respected by both the owners and the subjects of his work. He was known as an exceptional portrait photographer, working with his subjects "as if he wasn't even there," according to one of his Art Center mentors. The signature of JR's life, how-ever, was his keen wit and infectious sense of humor. He brought laughter wherever he went, and his friends said that "he made everyone happy when he entered the room." Other long time friends said "JR could see the humor in everything. He made everyone laugh and we were happier when he was with us." It is as if God sent JR to bring wit and laughter to all he encountered, and then told him to hurry because there wasn't much time. He lived a full but tragically brief life and en-riched all whose paths he crossed. He will be with us and in our hearts forever. We will miss him terribly, but the laughter will never fade. Graveside services will be held Monday, July 10th at 11:00 AM at Valley Memorial Park in Novato, 415-897-9609. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent to the John R. Gaulding III Memorial Scholarship Fund at Art Center College of Design, 1700 Lida, Pasadena, CA 91103. Each year the Fund will award JR's Prize to a photographer of distinction at Art Center as a living tribute to his remarkable talent and devotion to his art. Monte's Chapel of the Hills Family Owned and Operated San Anselmo ~ 415.453.8440