Gail Blackman was not an average woman.

She was too tall, too loud, and too determined to be anything other than astounding—and she did not disappoint. If you met her, you didn’t forget her.

Her gold curls, her turquoise jewelry, and a sense of humor that was a little too sharp in every sense of the word. But boy, was she fun.

It’s easy to overlook her achievements, simply because there were so many. She turned a home catering hobby into a partnership with one of the biggest

brands in kitchenware. She worked with some of the most well-known leaders in the tableware space, and even blindfolded, she could tell you the pattern

of your fork. She also designed the carts in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where you've overpaid for snacks.

Yet no matter the title on her business card, she was always the boss, and it felt that way at home, too.

Most people fell in love with Gail the first time they met her. Except Stephen. It took him twice. They were married 57 years, at least 56 of which were happy.

They lived in Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Florida… with a few stops between to have two children, Jenny and Justin.

Though their kids look more like Stephen than Gail, they both have her spending habits. And stubbornness. And dessert plates.

She was a great mom and an even better wife. In these last few years, Stephen visited her every day, driving an hour-and-a-half each way to be by her side.

Even if she wasn’t awake. Even if she told him not to.

It takes a special woman to earn a love like that. And even more to offer it back.

The affection Gail had for her family was irrefutable. Yes, it could be barbed (and she wouldn’t hold back from critiquing your outfit, your grammar, or the way you held your spoon),

but it was always real. And it multiplied tenfold for her grandchildren, Nicky, Lorelei, and Finn. (Whom she spoiled waaaaaaay more than her own kids—and did so with pride.)

She was one helluva woman. And an even better mom.

Gail Marilyn Goldstein Blackman leaves behind her ever-loving husband Stephen, sister Bonnie, brother Michael, three grandchildren, two children, one dog, a half-written novel… and very large shoes to fill.

Seriously. Her feet were huge.

If we were to put money on it, her soul is probably back in Brooklyn, eating ice cream with John Wayne… telling him about my dad, and trying not to judge the way he holds his spoon.

Gail was a proud supporter of Amy's House & The Lincoln County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. If you’d like to honor her in any way (and support a great cause) memorial contributions may be directed to https://lincolncounty-cadv.org/amys-house/