REMEMBERING GALE
Dear Visitor,
It is with great sadness (and some relief) that I announce the passing of my mom, Gale Heath van Druten (March 20, 1939 – April 4, 2025).
I struggle to articulate the loving, ultra-creative, supportive and free environment I grew up in. My mom always, always had my back.
In 4th grade, my teacher and I didn’t see eye to eye on several subjects and when he threatened to keep me after school, Gale marched into his classroom and said, “You’ve got Kirk from 8:45am to 3:15pm. You can’t have him more than that – he needs to be outside and moving his body after school!” Nothing says “I see who you are and support you” more than your mom telling off an authoritarian teacher.
What was just ‘normal’ to me as a young boy is beautifully articulated in this piece by my classmate and Gale’s long-time friend, Kathy Bruin. If you were around our home, the “Lancaster Castle,” in the mid-70’s you knew. If not, this begins to tell the story…
Gale was passionate about sewing, quilting, appliqué, knitting and fabric arts of all kinds. As I was growing up, she made many of my clothes, ski jackets and “OP” style surf shorts. Nothing made her happier than making a hand-smocked dress and sending it to a friend’s newborn baby. I’ve added scans of some of her creative work at the bottom of the Gallery.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoy this tribute to and the memories of Gale as much as I’ve loved putting it together.
Kirk van Moon April, 2025
Now, on to the obituary-ish stuff.
Gale Margaret Heath was born in San Francisco, California in 1939 to Hurley York Heath and Myriam Ruth Anderson Heath.
She attended elementary, middle and high school in Albany, California, before completing a Bachelors degree in Home Economics at the University of California at Davis.
Gale married Don van Druten on January 28, 1961. She spent her adult years being a mother to Kirk Allen van Druten (born 1963), making their home a favored destination for every kid in the area. She also enjoyed designing and managing house construction projects – their home on Lancaster Road was always undergoing some type of creative retrofit, often referred to as “Demodeling.” Gale and Don were married for 64 years, but lived separately for the last 28.
After overcoming her struggles with agoraphobia, Gale worked to recreate herself. She lived in an apartment in downtown Lafayette, California where she walked to shops and restaurants, connected with new friends, and began a spiritual quest that sustained her in later years.
During the last ten years of Gale’s life, she suffered from dementia. When asked how she was, her answer was always the same, “I’m so boggled!” Fortunately, she still knew her family and closest friends until the day she passed.
Gale is survived by her husband Don van Druten, son Kirk van Moon, brothers Glen and Jon Heath, and her grandchildren Oliver and Nicola van Moon.
If you have additional memories or photos of Gale to share, please do!
