Gail Hoefler
May 4, 1962 -
Apr 20, 2025
Gail Fairbanks Hoefler passed away unexpectedly on Apr. 20, 2025, at the age of 62, at her beloved Hillside home in Anchorage, Alaska. She was born to Charles and Winifred Williams on May 4, 1962, in Springfield, Mass., the youngest of four siblings. In her early years, she lived a New England family life in Western Massachusetts before moving to St. Louis, Mo., at age 8 and then to the Boston area where she completed high school.
She went off to Cornell University to study plant science, one of her many passions in life. While at Cornell pursuing another of her passions, music, she met the love of her life and future husband, Brian Hoefler, playing the French horn in the marching band and wind ensemble. It was said in those days that Gail and Brian made quite the duet.
After graduating with her degree in plant science, Gail moved to Boston, where she and Brian were soon married. In 1989, they left Boston for Seattle, Wash., where Brian entered graduate school and Gail assumed responsibilities as general manager of an interior plant service. Gail always had fond memories of those days in Seattle, including her passion for the Mariners and her first puppy. In 1991, Gail and Brian moved to Anchorage where they made their home for the last 34 years.
Alaska is a place where Gail's passions blossomed. She first worked retail at Alaska Mill & Feed then soon thereafter began her long affiliation with the Alaska Botanical Garden as its first Executive Director then later as a Board member and long-term volunteer. In more recent years, she took pride in helping nurture the ABG Meconopsis collection, a form of Himalayan poppy that thrives in northern climates. Her plant skills, dedication, attention to detail, and tender loving care helped the Meconopses grow and thrive at ABG.
After retiring as ED of ABG, Gail dedicated her time to raising her three children and enabling them to follow their dreams. She was the leader of her daughters' Daisies, Brownies and Juniors Girl Scout troops. She was team mom for her son's baseball team, and head of the ski team booster club at South High. At Huffman Elementary, she was the "potato mom" who established the annual potato harvest, which eventually grew to 19 beds. For 22 years, Gail organized the students for spring potato planting followed by the fall harvest with a bountiful yield that was donated to Bean's Cafe.
Envisioning the Alaska dream, she oversaw the design and construction of the Hoefler family home on a vacant plot of land on the mid-Hillside that was finished in 2000. Her design ideas and eye for detail show throughout and resulted in endless family fun and entertainment such as Girl Scout shortbread baking parties and ski team spaghetti feeds. She was the proud hostess for many years of the Hoefler spring open house where she appreciated the opportunity to catch up with old friends. Gail took particular pride in her yard. For 25 years, she was out in her garden as soon as the snow melted spending long summer hours tending to every corner of her yard with one of her dogs - Molly, Polly, Charlie - keeping her company while listening to the Seattle Mariners game on the radio. Her prolific vegetable garden produced lots of raspberries and rhubarb, which she used to make excellent wines. When she wasn't out in her yard, Gail spent endless time in the house making sure each and every one of her multitude of indoor plants was happy.
The kitchen was the focal point in her home. Gail was an avid cook whipping up a wide variety of delectable meals for her family and friends. Like all of her passions, she studied recipes and tinkered endlessly to make any concoction extra special. With her knack for cooking, Gail became the go-to culinary arts consultant for family and friends. She was also entrusted as the keeper of the Hoefler family sourdough, which dates back to the Klondike Gold Rush. Her sourdough pancakes were said to be the best that anyone ever had. Her last act in the kitchen was baking cardamom bread for Easter dinner following a traditional Magee family recipe. All agreed that it was a delicious and fitting tribute to Gail.
Up north, Gail and Brian inherited the Hoefler family cabin at Nancy Lake. Gail became the matriarch of "Hoeflerville" with its three cabins and extensive lakefront. Drawing on her Anchorage home experience, she tackled design and construction of the new Hoefler family cabin at Nancy Lake. She poured her soul into the project, which, when completed in 2017, became a masterpiece of cabin life. Gail would say that the cabin is built around her pride and joy – the traditional wood cook stove. She could cook anything on that stove and, of course, thrilled everyone with her sourdough pancakes.
A woman of deep faith, Gail was a longtime member of Amazing Grace Lutheran Church. A patron of the arts, she was a season subscriber to the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra since her arrival in Anchorage in 1991. She also spent many years as a "green grunt" on the timing crew for middle school, high school, Besh Cup and national-caliber cross-country ski races. She enjoyed year-round cross-country ski workouts with the Alaska Winter Stars' famous noon group. In recent years, Gail and Brian enjoyed traveling to watch World Cup cross-country ski races in Europe, Canada, and the U.S.
Gail was preceded in death by her mother, Winifred Williams. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Brian Hoefler; her three children, Annie Gayman (husband Ian Gayman) of Washington, D.C., Janey Hoefler of Denver, and Matthew Hoefler of Seattle; also by her father, Charlie Williams; siblings, Stuart Williams (Leslie Braunagel), Wendy Williams, and Jean Williams (Nick Grant), along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.
A service for Gail will be held at Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025,at 2 p.m. For a livestream option, please go to the Central Lutheran Church website. A reception will follow at the church. Donations in Gail's memory can be made to the Alaska Botanical Garden.
