Gale Hasselmeier

Allison Gale Hasselmeier, Jr. died March 24, 2023, at age 78 at St. David’s North Hospital, Austin, TX. Gale was born July 18, 1944, to Allison Gale Sr. and Nellie Hanicak Hasselmeier at St. Mary’s Infirmary, Galveston, TX. He was their second child, little brother to his sister, Gaynelle. They grew up on Avenue T, with Gale attending St. Patrick’s (kindergarten and 1st grade), Davy Crockett elementary (2nd – 6th), Lovenberg middle (7th – 9th), and graduated from Galveston Ball high in 1962. At Ball High, Gale was Senior Class President, voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” a member of the National Honor Society, and was one of eighteen students chosen by their peers for Goodfellows, an organization honoring excellence in both academics and community service. But, probably of most importance for his future, Gale was active in the Slide Rule Club, often ranking 1st in District Slide Rule contests. Math was his favorite subject, thanks to his beloved math teacher, Mrs. Alta Pfeiffer, who occasionally had Gale substitute teach her classes. After high school graduation, he proceeded to the University of Texas where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1966 with a major in math and minor in computer science. While at U.T., Gale was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity where he served as President, and the Silver Spurs (honorary organization responsible for the care and transportation of BEVO, the U.T. longhorn steer mascot). After U.T., he earned his master’s degree in actuarial science at the University of Michigan, graduating in 1967. In addition to his formal education, Gale cultivated a good work ethic as a young teenager by mowing lawns and, in summers, working at his grandfather Fred Hasselmeier’s motel, The Mariner, at 16th and Seawall. Later, being back home in Galveston during several summer breaks from U.T., Gale worked at American National Insurance company, confirming his interest in Actuarial Science.

Having graduated from (and as he often later said, “freezing in”) University of Michigan, he turned down an offer from a big insurance company in New York City … he said he needed to “thaw out.” Well, thaw out he did as he landed an actuarial job in New Orleans, while living in the suburb of Metairie. From there, he ascended in value as an actuary working at other insurance companies in both Dallas and Austin. Note that at some point after New Orleans, during the Vietnam war, Gale served in the Army Reserves at Fort Hood in Texas; when he finished the training, he returned to his career, only going to meetings and further training on a semi-monthly basis. He was luckily never in the active war. Much later, in Austin, Gale was hired as an actuary in a company, originally named Tracor Computing Corporation, a spinoff from the larger Tracor. Eventually it split from Tracor, at which time its name was changed to TCC. Then a wonderful gentleman, Ron Carroll from Canada, bought TCC, and eventually renamed it The Continuum Company. In 1996, Continuum became part of Computer Sciences Corp. Gale ultimately became Sr. V.P and Chief Actuary with many employees reporting directly or indirectly to him. One of his employees named Cheryl was a computer systems analyst/programmer, employed by TCC in 1972. She graduated from U.T. two years after Gale did. Like Gale, she majored in math, minoring in computer science. She had the utmost respect for him, as did most of his employees; Gale was considerate of all of them. That respect turned to love and more admiration when they both were in a company Users Group in 1980 in Galveston, TX. Since they’d known and worked with each other for years prior, it didn’t take long for Gale to propose. Cheryl answered “YES!”. They married on February 7, 1981, at the Austin Club, with a band and many friends, dancing and celebrating past midnight. They were blessed 5 years later with the birth of their only child, a wonderful daughter, Kristen Nell Hasselmeier!

Gale was preceded in death by his father, Allison Gale Hasselmeier, Sr., his mother, Nellie Hanicak Hasselmeier, both of Galveston, his father-in-law, Merle Lester Burr and mother-in-law, Blanche Edna Farquhar Burr both of Austin.

From the “Burr” side of the family, Gale is survived by his wife Cheryl Ann Burr Hasselmeier of Austin, his daughter Kristen Nell Hasselmeier Scheppler and husband Chris of Georgetown, with their two sons Cory and Caden; his brother-in-law, Richard Burr and wife Evelin of Houston, and their two daughters Angelica and Chelsea. Also, dear to Gale and Cheryl on Cheryl’s side of the family are her cousins, Cindy Dawn Jones Hiemer and husband Thom of Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Craig Holland, M.D. (Cheryl so appreciated Craig’s concern and medical advice regarding Gale) and wife Cheryl of Broomfield, Colorado, and Brian Holland and wife Janine of Golden, Colorado.

From the “Hasselmeier” side of the family, Gale’s survived by his sister, Gaynelle Hayes of Galveston, her daughter Anne-Marie Laas and husband Russell of New Braunfels, their daughter Christine Laas Holmes and husband Kevin of Houston with their two daughters, Grace and Connally, and many Hanicak and Hasselmeier cousins.

Special thanks from Cheryl to Gale’s wonderful caregiver, Kenny King. He was great to them both; they regarded him as a good friend.

A “Celebration of Gale’s Life” will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 20, 2023, in the Walden Room of the Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 N. Interstate Hwy 35, Pflugerville, TX 78660. It is on the Northbound I-35 access road with the entrance being approximately .9 miles north of W. Howard Lane (shortly past “Lantower Ambrosio Apartments”). It’s best to use your car’s navigation system to get to the corner of W. Howard Lane and Northbound I-35 access. Then once on the Northbound I-35 access, get in the far-right lane so you can drive slowly to recognize the right turn into the funeral home’s parking lot.