Gary Wall

Posted

Aug. 7, 1941 – July 16, 2018

Gary Wall ran around and through Jefferson and neighboring counties each Aug. 7, his birthday, while living in Port Townsend, sharing with his former wife Susan raising two sons, and establishing and operating a popular restaurant—LaFonda—on Washington Street near the Boat Haven.

Wall’s running feat is notable because he matched his age with the miles he ran.

Wall, 76, died July 16 of a brain hemorrhage. He was rushed to a Denver hospital after collapsing at his home near Steamboat Springs, CO, July 14. He died early July 16 after his family agreed to remove life support.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, at the family home in Clark, CO; his sons Theron Wall of Prescott, AZ and Kalon Wall of Buena Vista, CO; his stepdaughter, Sarah Wilson of Everett, WA, and his stepson, Ryan Wilson, of Humble, TX, as well as his grandchildren, Taban, Emma and Thea Wall. His former wife, Susan, of Aspen, CO also survives.

Wall served a long career in law enforcement, first as a patrolman and detective in Aspen, CO in the 1960s and then as the Chief of Police in Vail, CO, from 1973 to 1979. 

He came to Port Townsend after his Colorado policing experiences, but chose a different “profession” as restaurateur. He and his family moved to Arizona after selling LaFonda. Following divorce Wall settled at Steamboat Springs where he established a private investigator business. It was there he met and married Jennifer Wilson.

He was elected sheriff of Routt County, CO, in 2006, serving until 2010. According to Jennifer, he sought the Office of Sheriff with the philosophy of “looking for ways to help people, not looking for ways to get them.” He also served as chairman of the Colorado State Council on Criminal Justice.

“Gary was a passionate advocate for people’s individual and constitutional rights, a lifelong political junkie, and a science nerd,” Jennifer relates. In a news article published during his tenure as Vail police chief, Wall declared he was a libertarian as he related his experience meeting gonzo-journalist Hunter Thompson. 

Wall was a competitive long-distance runner for almost 40 years and completed numerous marathons as a top finisher, including the three marathons produced by the Port Townsend Marathon Association in conjunction with the annual 12K Rhody Run. His years running miles equaling his age on his birthday covered public roads, mountain trails and even down and up the Grand Canyon. He was a member of a Port Townsend runners’ group that weekly—Sunday mornings—ran Olympic National Forest and National Park trails to prepare for area marathon races.

Wall was also an accomplished sailor, skier and horseman; a masterful gardener, talented chef and mechanic, Jennifer relates. 

“We are all inspired by his energy, his love and devotion to his family and numerous friends, and by his philosophies of always doing the right thing, never being a phony, and always looking for ways to help people. He will be missed,” said Jennifer.

Wall was born Aug. 7, 1941 at Seattle to Raymond and Wilma Wall. He grew up in the Ballard area.

A party to celebrate Gary Wall’s life is scheduled for 3 p.m. Aug. 4 at North Routt Charter School in Clark, CO, about 20 miles north of Steamboat Springs, followed by a barbecue at the family home. For directions contact Jennifer Wall at jennimoose1188@gmail.com. Donations in Wall’s name are invited to LiftUp of Routt County, CO, where he served as a volunteer.