Gary McCall

1954 - 2016

Gary Andrew McCall

Gary Andrew McCall-- ardent Giants fan, consummate salesman, sushi connoisseur, staunch friend, inveterate jokester--has played his last inning. He died in Oakland, California, on April 18, 2016, after a battle with cancer. Gary, known in his professional life as Andy, was a longtime resident of San Leandro and Oakland and will be sorely missed.
He was born on January 25, 1954, in San Mateo, California, to Thomas and Elizabeth McCall, the 5th of 13 children. After graduating from Oakland Technical High School in 1972, working for the Oakland Tribune, and attending Bay Area colleges, he traveled to Japan, earning a BA in history and political science from Sophia University in Tokyo in 1978.
He lived in Japan for 5 years and returned to it many times. Japan remained an essential part of his life in the United States. He worked as a tour guide for Japanese tourists visiting the Bay Area, served as president of the Japanese-English Toastmasters club in San Francisco, managed and played for the Ninjas, a local nanshiki (Japanese baseball) team, and relished dining on and introducing family, friends, and business associates to Japanese delicacies.
Gary worked for 33 years in the paper industry, where his employers included Daiei Papers, Stora Newton Falls, and, most recently, Appleton Coated. His excellence earned him awards and accolades from colleagues, who called him "the gold standard" and "the cream of the crop" and who valued not only his business acumen but his good fellowship. Many found his positive attitude and zest for life inspirational.
Gary was a passionate San Francisco Giants fan. He held season tickets for 16 years and took many friends and colleagues to games. He was an avid swimmer and swam competitively in a local Masters Swimming Program, sometimes competing with his father. He loved international travel and is renowned for driving a rental Mercedes in reverse up a steep, narrow, muddy road in England.
Gary was predeceased by his father and two brothers, Kevin and Tim. He is survived by his mother; his son, Tom; his siblings, Pat, Duane, Alan, Kathleen, Ted, Carol, Mary, Betsy, Chris, and Gail; and his longtime partner, Pamela Pasti.
Gary was frequently known to be the first to respond to requests for help or assistance, regardless of time of day or personal circumstance. He was a pillar of support for many. "Spending time with him made you a better person," as one acquaintance put it. We will miss Gary, especially his love, compassion, support, and good humor.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate, or a similar charity of your choice.