John Gaul
November 9, 1925 - July 25, 2023
JOHN GAUL (1925-2023)
San Francisco Loses a Piece of Its History
John Gaul, 97, a fixture for decades in San Francisco historical circles, died on July 25, 2023, at his longtime home at John F. Kennedy Towers in San Francisco.
He leaves a considerable legacy of celebrating and perpetuating the history of The City he loved. He was a docent at three of San Francisco's most historical places: the Palace of Fine Arts, the Haas-Lilienthal House and the San Francisco Swedenborgian Church. He led tours and helped train docents for all three, and was also active in SF Heritage, the San Francisco Historical Society and the Victorian Alliance.
Always impeccably dressed and relentlessly positive, he helped spearhead the designation of the Swedenborgian Church on Lyon and Washington Street, the birthplace of the Arts & Crafts Movement in the U.S., as a United States National Historic Landmark, celebrating an outstanding aspect of American history and culture.
John Melvin Gaul was born on November 9, 1925, the son of Carl Joseph Gaul and Olive Mae La Brash, and raised in Tacoma, Washington. His parents and a brother, Carl Gaul, preceded him in death. He is survived by his cat, Apollo. Late in life he became a spokesman for Give Me Shelter, a pet adoption agency that helped him find companionship after others turned him away because of advancing age and limited finances. He also became a supporter and poster boy for Meals on Wheels, whose delivery trucks for years sported his bowler-hatted likeness.
A Celebration of John's Life will be held at the San Francisco Swedenborgian Church at Lyon & Washington Streets at 2 p.m. on September 9, 2023. Donations in John's memory may be made to Give Me Shelter PO Box 411013 San Francisco, CA 94141 by check or to donate online givemesheltersf.org. Donations may also be made to the San Francisco Swedenborgian Church, a National Historic Landmark 3200 Washington Street San Francisco, CA 94115 or San Francisco Heritage 2007 Franklin Street San Francisco, CA 94109.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Aug. 29, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for John Gaul

Sponsored by Pacific Interment - San Francisco.

5 Entries

Nancy Leras

August 23, 2025

Memories of John linger in my heart. I can hear his delightful voice and (rare) laugh in my mind's ear. John, you are missed every Sunday, perhaps most especially by all of the children who you inspired and prompted to participate in the Church service. Children should be made to feel as though they belong, which you often said. Let us not forget they are our future, and you are a lovely moment of my past, and many others. Until we meet again. With Love and Appreciation, Nancy.

Nancy Leras

August 23, 2024

My Dearest John....I can't help but laugh at what you would say about me writing now that you are "gone". You would say "I'm not here, why are you writing to me"....just human nature, dear John. I miss you! I know you know that in some way. I want to call you and chat all the time. I have only my memories of your sage advice to call upon as needed. I hope your words of encouragement and wisdom continue to resonate with me. BTW, you'd sure be HAPPY to know who is running for President....and VERY like to win as well. Oh yes, you'd LOVE to be here to celebrate. I'll do it for you !! Much Love & Care. Nancy

Nancy Leras

March 23, 2024

My dear friend, John. The world seems so dull without you and your humor, advice, suggestions, endless Google research, phone conversations, challenges, schemes, and generally wonderful adventures engaging the power of positive thinking at every turn. I never tired of you and we never had a conversation of small talk. It was always a delight to receive your calls with the opening words "I WONDER". It is now I who wonder. Thank you, dear John. I will miss your presence always. I look forward to finding you in the spiritual realm at some future time. I miss you deeply and profoundly. Nancy

Jane Cryan

September 2, 2023

Sometime during the 1970s I observed the elegant gentleman that was John Gaul walking around the Palace of Fine Arts. I didn't know him but I sensed that he was a special human being. A decade later when I began a crusade to save what was left of San Francisco's 1906 Earthquake Refugee Shack Cottages and engaged with other San Francisco historians I met John Gaul and was treated to his overabundance of wisdom and grace. My dear Mr. Gaul, may your journey into nothingness or everything be as noble as you were and are. How enormously privileged I was to meet you.

Joseph Amster

August 31, 2023

https://youtu.be/9Tm0_ga1XH8?si=uQUGYSzYNTHWPrLd

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