Gail Miyo Hill

Gail Miyo Hill, of San Diego, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 at age 74. She is survived by her husband Ed, sons Brian and Kevin, grandson “Little” Kevin, brother Jake, sisters Patti and Jodi, and extended family and friends. Gail was known as “Miyo” by many of her friends in the Buddhist Temple but for friends and associates outside the Temple, she was simply “Gail”.

Born in San Diego in 1947, Gail attended San Diego public schools and went on to UCLA and San Diego State University, earning Bachelors and Master’s Degrees and teaching certificates qualifying her to teach at the Junior College level. She had a 35-year career in education and worked with disabled adults in a variety of settings. It was while working at the ARC in San Diego that she met her future husband, Ed, when he worked as volunteer there. Ed and Gail were married in 1973 and had been married 47 years at the time of Gail’s passing.

As a teacher of disabled adults, Gail consistently displayed kindness, compassion and understanding towards them. She was well respected by students and staff alike, and was appreciated for her energy, efficiency and attention to detail. Many of the adult disabled students with whom she worked sought her out for advice and counsel and she developed supportive relationships with many of them. Many of those relationships continued well into Gail’s retirement years.

Gail had many interests and pastimes over the course of her life. She loved many styles of music, especially folk music, and attended a variety of concerts and musicals with her husband, Ed. Gail loved to travel. She had visited National Parks in all parts of the United States. She and Ed enjoyed cruising and had taken cruises in many parts of the world. She recalled fondly trips to Australia/New Zealand, Japan and Canada. In recent years, she and Ed had taken road trips in many areas of the United States. She was especially fond of New England and had made multiple trips there to see fall colors. An avid crafter, she enjoyed craft groups at the Buddhist Temple and participated in knitting/crocheting groups in the community. Gail was a sports fan and an avid fan of the San Diego State Aztec basketball team. She and Ed were season ticket holders in both football and basketball. Gail had rarely missed a home basketball game in the last 10 years. She and Ed had looked forward each year to attending the Mountain West Basketball tournament in Las Vegas.

Her most outstanding role was that of mother, grandmother and wife. She was proud of her two boys and was almost always cheering the boys from the sidelines at games during the years of little league baseball and youth soccer. She was an exceptional cook and kept her family well-fed. She played host to many dinners and parties and especially enjoyed hosting Annual Super Bowl parties at her home.

A devout Buddhist, Gail Miyo was a member of the Buddhist Temple of San Diego, remaining an active member to the end of her life. She managed the Temple’s Scrip Program. She regularly served as a cashier/money counter at the Temple’s annual rummage sales. She could be counted on to assist in making foods, cutting vegetables, filling food containers or doing whatever she could in support of Temple events and projects.

Gail will be missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing her. May her gentleness and kind spirit continue to serve as a model for all of us.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tridentsociety.com/location/san-diego-cremation for the Hill family.