Deerbrook Editions

Gail Gauldin Moore

August 24, 1936 – May 18, 2022

Only a month and a half after the publication of her latest poetry book 'Stricken: Poems in the Time of Covid,' Gail Gauldin Moore, 83, died peacefully on May 18, 2022. Family members were at her side.

Gail is survived by daughter Shannon, son Jordan, grandchildren Ryan, Dylan, Dorian and Rosalie, great granddaughter Aradia, niece Erin, great niece Raia, great nephew Zephyr, sister Karin, former husband Ned, son-in-law Harry and daughter-in-law Gwen. She was preceded in death by son Michael.

Born on August 24, 1936 in Los Angeles, her parents were Aubrey and Sara Saper Gauldin. Her father‘s roots in the U.S. go back to colonial times, and it is reputed that the family includes Native American stock in its lineage. Sara, a poet, was Jewish.

Gail attended Venice High School and earned a BA in cultural anthropology and an MA in education, educational psychology, counseling and guidance from California State University, Northridge.

She was a successful licensed marriage and family therapist for over 30 years. As an adjunct professor, she taught graduate level psychology for the University of La Verne.

Gail received a certificate in theological studies from Suwanee, University of the South.

Gail started writing poetry relatively late in life, with her first book, 'Poems on the Half Shell,' published in 2005. Her other poetry books, aside from 'Stricken’, are ‘Postcard Poems' (2006), 'Nancy of the Silences' (2011) and 'Daughter of the Rain' (2019).

She was a prolific writer. Her work has appeared in many literary journals, including California Quarterly and Daybreak. Named by the Pacifica Foundation Best Poet of 2001, she has four other poetry awards and read her work at various venues.

Gail, for the most part, had a difficult life, but she was a strong person. Her intelligence, curiosity, passion, perseverance, compassion, discipline, industriousness and organizational ability carried her through.

She was politically progressive and hated Trump. A critic of our justice system, one of her best poems is “Lady Justice.” The homeless situation in L.A. greatly distressed her, and she sometimes went out of her way to help a homeless person whom she encountered.

Gail was a good swimmer, loved good literature, especially Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov, and enjoyed movies.

She liked desserts and had a flair for interior decorating. Joni Mitchell was one of her favorite musicians.

Aging, with its attendant physical problems, slowed her down. But she was as active as she could be. An example is the completion of her last poetry book.

Gail thought that poetry should strive to be what it was was meant to be, the highest of the literary arts.

Gail was a mensch. She will be missed by her family, friends and readers.

What Walt Whitman wrote applies to Gail: “Oh, how shall I warble myself for the dead one there I loved?/And how shall I deck my song for the large sweet soul that has gone?”

A memorial service for Gail will take place on Sunday, June 26 at Village Green in Los Angeles, home of Jordan and Gwen. The family has planted an evergreen pear tree on the property in Gail’s honor.