Gary Mackenzie Lance

Gary MacKenzie Lance

“The song has ended, but the melody plays on … ”

Gary MacKenzie Lance, 88 years of age, passed away on April 24, 2023, in his home in Cerritos, CA, surrounded by family. He was born on March 29,1935, to MacKenzie and Elda Lance, in Glens Falls, NY. He was predeceased by his parents; brother David Hammond Lance; sister Suzanne Elda Fredella, and his first wife, Ann Marie Dozier. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Susan Elaine Lance. He is also survived by his sister Marilyn Kay Lemin (William); sons Jeffrey MacKenzie Lance (Susan), Jonathan Kevin Lance (Bernadette), Jody Christopher Lance; and daughters Kimberly Suzanne Petersen (Eric) and Kelli Elizabeth Brooks. Gary has twelve grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Gary loved his family, and family gatherings brought him immense pride and joy.

Gary lived his early years in three upstate New York towns, Glens Falls, Ogdensburg, and Lake George, before becoming a part of the first graduating class from the new Glens Falls High School in June 1953. Gary was most proud that his 100% New York State Regents Exam in Geometry was placed in the school’s cornerstone. His first year in college was at Ithaca College before entering the United States Army for three years, stationed primarily in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 1959, Gary continued his education at the Julia E. Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam. This is where he met Susan, a fellow music student. Graduating college in 1963, Gary headed west to Southern California to be close to where his three sons lived. Susan joined him the following year, and she and Gary were married at the Downey Presbyterian Church on April 10, 1965. In 1969, Gary and Susan watched their first and only home being built in Cerritos.

In 1963, Gary was hired as an elementary music teacher in Paramount Unified School District. Initially, he traveled to all elementary schools to teach classroom music, teaching third graders tonettes as a pre-band instrument, fourth graders the Suzuki method of beginning violin, and fifth graders beginning band. In 1970, he moved to Clearwater Intermediate School where he taught classroom music, choir, beginning and advanced band classes. Gary believed “music for all, and all for music”. Gary retired from the district in June 1995 after 32 years in music education.

Gary’s love for music was lifelong and was a gift from his father, who was a jazz trumpet player. Gary was given piano lessons as a young boy, and by age 15, he was playing “gigs” with his brother David and continued to be a jazz enthusiast and pianist for his lifetime. Although he stopped playing gigs at age 55, he never stopped playing the piano each day. He had a list of his favorite jazz standards that began with only his “top 10”, but very quickly expanded to well over 150 tunes. He listened to KJZZ 88.1 daily and always had a small list of tunes that he wanted to go to the piano to play. He loved playing songs surrounding themes: tunes about Spring, Autumn, and those that began with “You”. He looked forward to summer park concerts with the Long Beach Municipal Band, Four Freshman concerts, and the Tom Kubis Big Band at the Long Beach Gaslamp. In addition to music, Gary enjoyed good food and would travel great distances to a new restaurant. He looked forward to his weekly lunch date with best friend, Ralph Anaya. He enjoyed road trips with his family, took pride in his yard and garden, and for years, stayed active with walking, running, and tennis. The family extends love and gratitude to Gary’s loyal caretaker over the past 8 months, Revelyn Dauis. A service in his memory will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023, at Grace First Presbyterian Church of Long Beach, where he and Sue have been members since 2015. His ashes will be placed in a family plot at the Artesia District Cemetery in Artesia, California. Arrangements are being handled by the Luyben Dilday Family Mortuary.