Gary MacFadyen

1956 - 2025

Gary MacFadyen

December 21, 1956 - January 17, 2025

Sacramento, California - With deep sadness we announce the passing of Gary MacFadyen, aged 68, after a brief battle with cancer. Despite his illness he focused on ensuring the comfort and happiness of the family that surrounded him - a testament to the man he was and the life he led.

Gary was born in December 1956 to Claire and Thomas MacFadyen in Oakland. Gary grew up alongside his brother Mike in Fremont. The two explored the foothills of the East Bay with their dog Tawny, the first of many golden retrievers.

Gary attended UC San Diego after high school, but soon felt it was not right for him and returned to northern California. This departure proved fortuitous, as his life changed forever on the side of a road in Incline Village on New Year's Day in 1978. While hitchhiking with a friend, the pair were picked up by two cute girls in a Volkswagen Beetle. Gary noticed an immediate connection with the driver, and upon realizing he needed more time with her was blessed with a second bit of good fortune a flat tire. This gave him an opportunity to change the tire and exchange contact info. The rest was history. Gary's lifelong love with his wife Cyndie began on that day.

The two landed in Kirkwood for several years, working nights and skiing days, and spending any other free time with their dogs. They began a lasting love of travel which would take them around the world. From exploring the jungles of Southeast Asia atop an elephant, to hiking to Machu Picchu, or even to meeting Cyndie's family in Austria for skiing and fondue, they traveled many miles together and made countless memories. The two married in Los Gatos in 1981, before moving to Berkeley where Gary completed his bachelor's degree at the UC.

Gary and Cyndie eventually departed for Sacramento, planning to stay only as long as she needed to complete her teaching credential. But what might have seemed like a lowly cow town on the way to Tahoe soon grew on them, and they stayed in East Sacramento to raise a family. Gary and Cyndie had two sons, Thomas and Sam, and instilled in them the same love of travel, dogs, food, friendship, and of all the things that make life so precious.

Gary filled much of his time running a successful auto parts business which has spanned nearly three decades. In his work he was practical, logistically oriented, and highly determined. He was fair and measured and structured his company to uplift the lives of his employees and sustain the longevity of the business. His sons and daughter-in-law will proudly carry on the family business.

Outside of his career, Gary's top priority was his family. Alongside Cyndie, Gary raised his sons to be capable, driven, and compassionate. He was an involved and devoted father who shaped us into who we are today. Despite a passing that came too soon, his influence has prepared us to overcome life's challenges. A lifetime of memories comfort us in this difficult time, from safaris in Africa, to a beer in the sun after a great day of skiing, to barbecuing in the back yard and throwing a ball for the dogs. He'll be with us in good times and bad, and his presence will certainly be felt in the activities he loved. We'll save him a seat at Giants games, snap some pictures for him on our travels, give the dogs an extra pat, smile at the crackle of fireworks on the fourth of July, and keep chasing after the perfect Stollen bread on Christmas mornings.

We take comfort that he is reunited with Cyndie, who passed in late 2020. Gary is survived by his sons Thomas and Sam, his daughter-in-law Nichole, his brother Mike and sister-in-law Sharon, his mother-in-law Verda, his brother-in-law Steve, a wealth of family and friends, and his dog Maisie (who quickly made herself at home with Thomas, his girlfriend Natalie, and their dog Ruby). A day of remembrance for both Gary and Cyndie will be held at their home on May 24th. Please contact Thomas for details.