From left, recreation staff Greg Garcia, Gayle Glines, Rachel

A handful of employees in the City of Gilroy Recreation
Department are remembering a friend, co-worker and mentor whose
unexpected death leaves behind a 34-year track record of community
enrichment and neighborly outreach. City Recreation Supervisor
Gayle M. Glines, 57, of Gilroy, died unexpectedly Sunday, April 17
at Saint Louise Hospital.
Gilroy – A handful of employees in the City of Gilroy Recreation Department are remembering a friend, co-worker and mentor whose unexpected death leaves behind a 34-year track record of community enrichment and neighborly outreach.

Since City Recreation Supervisor Gayle M. Glines, 57, of Gilroy, died unexpectedly Sunday, April 17 at Saint Louise Hospital, fond stories of the youth advocate, diligent volunteer and amicable colleague who loved to pass out cards and small presents for every single holiday aren’t hard to find.

“She was a great mentor. She didn’t just scrape the surface. She dug deeper and tried to help people improve,” said Rachel Mariscal, 25, recreation specialist for the city of Gilroy.

Her cause of death is undetermined.

Mariscal was hired by Glines for her very first job at the age of 15.

“She taught me how to treat people,” said Mariscal over the phone after leaving a chaplain’s meeting Monday morning. “Not only professionally, but personally.”

You didn’t even have to be a close friend, Mariscal added. Glines just made you feel special.

During her three decades immersed in city infrastructure, Glines oversaw and supported myriad programs including the Gilroy Youth Commission, Kids Discover Arts and after-school/summer playground activities. She also volunteered for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, Special Olympics, Little League and sporting events at Gilroy High School and Gavilan College.

“Gayle truly exemplified that if you want to get something done, ask a busy girl,” said her husband Walt Glines, a first-term trustee at Gavilan College.

Walt Glines, the circulation director for South Valley Newspapers, is the former editor for the Morgan Hill Times as well as a former reporter, sports editor and city editor for the Gilroy Dispatch. He met his future wife in 1977 when she took a job with the city of Gilroy’s Recreation Department.

“I was working as a reporter for the Dispatch,” he remembered. “I did a story on the city’s new recreation person, and as a thank you she made me cookies.”

Walt Glines said his wife believed in the importance of recreation for the community, especially the underserved portion.

“She was also very dedicated to guiding youth to pursue their education with their careers,” said Glines’ supervisor Maria De Leon, recreation department director for the city of Gilroy since 2007.

The two sat next to each other at work.

De Leon repeatedly used the term “caring” as she described her colleague, recalling Friday, April 15 when she and Glines were getting ready to depart for the weekend.

“She didn’t want to leave me by myself,” said De Leon, who had to stay a little later. “So we were late together. Then we put the alarm on, and we left together. She didn’t have to stay, but she did.”

Amid what De Leon called “a huge loss,” the fond memories are bolstering morale in a dark time.

“I feel very blessed to have gotten a chance to work with her, and to know her, and to experience her goodness,” said De Leon. “That’s what I’m hanging on to.”

Mariscal said she’s grateful for the 10 years she was able to spend with her mentor.

“This job was her passion; it was her life. She spent so many hours here. And after 34 years, she still had passion for it, and enjoyed it. I hope I still have that same zeal and enthusiasm for my job when I’ve been here for 34 years.”

Glines was born September 4, 1953.

She is survived by her husband, Walter Glines of Gilroy; son, Benjamin Glines, daughter-in-law Stephanie; granddaughter Adyson, all of San Jose; sister, Aileen Toki Matsuura of Santa Clara; and brother Ben Matsuura, sister-in-law Vicki, nieces Stacey and Sharie, all of Fresno.

She was the daughter of the late Ben and Nancy Matsuura of Santa Clara.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Gavilan College Student Union Building followed by a reception.

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