Gary Richard Njirich

1941 - 2021

Gary was the son of John and Betty Njirich of Columbia. He was born in Jamestown and grew up in Sonora/Columbia. As a boy he helped his father on the ranches of Tuolumne County and he was a Boy Scout. He graduated from Sonora High School and would go on to embark on many adventures in life.
Gary served in the Marines and, once home from the service, he married Joan Balistreri, of Sonora, and they had two daughters, Lisa Marie and Theresa Ann. They moved from Sonora to Bear Valley where Gary became a deputy sheriff. Eventually life would bring him back to his high school sweetheart and love of his life Paulette Medill, of Sonora. Together they would continue a 48-year lifelong spiritual and adventurous path, making many friends along the way. His true passion was to cook as was hers.
Life took them many places. In 1995 they opened The Libby Café in Libby, Montana. They closed the restaurant in 2017 to start their retirement. After closing the restaurant, Paulette became ill with Lou Gehrig's disease, and they would have to come back to California for treatment. They resided in Pine Grove, California, with his daughter Theresa. In June of 2020, his sweetheart passed due to the disease.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents John and Betty Njirich, and his wife of 48 years Paulette Medill Njirich. He is survived by his daughters, Lisa Njirich Robertson, of Valley Springs, and Theresa Njirich Ruiz, of Pine Grove; six granddaughters; and many great-grandchildren.
Final arrangements are being handled by the Neptune Society of Northern California.