Obituary of Gil Santos

Gilbert J Santos (Gil), a lifelong Santa Cruz County resident, born July 5th, 1934, passed away on October 3rd, 2024, after a brief illness. Born in Watsonville to parents who had emigrated from the Azores, he was proud of his Portuguese heritage. Gil espoused a philosophy that he maintained throughout his life “family is everything”. Gil was a dedicated family man, bird hunter and fly fisherman. Gil served his country honorably as a Navy signals man and helmsman from 1954 to 1956 aboard the USS Phillips, a fletcher class destroyer. Starting in 1956, Gil enjoyed a 37-year career at PG&E, eventually retiring in October 1993. During his time at PG&E, he held a variety of positions including groundman, lineman, crew foreman, and shop steward. During his last years at PG&E, he worked as a troubleman. Gil was an avid outdoorsman who fished and hunted all over the world. Traveling as far north as the Artic Circle and as far south as Patagonia and many places in between. Gil hunted for and took a 7-point Elk in Idaho. He hunted for Black Francolin in Venezuela, fished for bone fish at Christmas Island and landed a trophy sized Blue Marlin in Baja, California. He enjoyed so many trips with fishing buddies, local and around the country. Gil’s motto was stay safe, have fun, enjoy life! For 30 years, if you stopped by his house for a visit, he was either just returning from a trip or planning his next one. Accompanying him on many of his trips was his longtime partner, Pat Murray. Gil is survived by his daughter Tracy Cannon and her husband Eric Cannon, daughter Tamara Santos and her husband Rick Wright, son Chris Santos and his wife Loretta Caskey, honorary son Charles Zimmerman and partner Julie Pollack. Grandchildren Amy Donnell (Scott), Beth Larr (Jason), Jacqueline Evans (Anthony), Taylor Woods (Elvy), Kylah Laser (Ethan), Allie Wright, Zachary Fischler, Max Fischler, 6 great grandchildren… numerous nieces, nephews. He is preceded in death by his first wife Wanda Whittome, his son Anthony Santos, and his longtime partner Pat Murray. A Gathering for Gil will be held on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, 2:00pm at the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Charitable donations in Gil’s memory may be made to: The Public High School Senior Scholarship Program with the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club. Checks can be mailed to SC Fly Fishing, 1530 Hidden Valley Road, Soquel CA 9507