Gary Steven Lance

A dedicated public servant and cherished friend

NOVEMBER 26, 1952 – MARCH 21, 2025

Gary Steven Lance passed away peacefully at his home in San Francisco, California. He was 72.

Gary was born and raised in the great Commonwealth of Virginia. Gary frequently employed its formal name when referring to his home state. He was born in Radford, lived in the nearby small town of Pulaski until he was eight and then moved to Hopewell, VA where he graduated from high school in 1971. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Virginia Tech. He moved to San Francisco in 1980 and fell deeply in love with the City that would be his home for the rest of his life.

Gary devoted his career to public service, starting while still living on the east coast. He worked as a page in Washington, D.C. for a member of Congress and then for the Coast Guard in Maryland. Once in San Francisco, he began his 37-year long profession with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On his first few days of work at EPA, he showed up wearing a three piece suit; he soon adapted to the less formal west coast. Prior to his retirement in 2017, he was an expert Project Officer with a fiduciary responsibility to U.S. taxpayers, overseeing numerous Clean Air Act grants to tribal nations and local governments (e.g., South Coast Air Quality Management District). He also served as EPA Region 9’s World AIDS Day coordinator.

Gary loved movies, travel, music, the Christmas season, the Blue Ridge Mountains, beaches and sports. He was a big fan of the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Duke Blue Devils, college basketball and minor league baseball. Known for his warm personality and distinctive laugh, Gary made everyone feel welcomed and appreciated while also cherishing his quiet moments. He was voted “friendliest” in his senior high school yearbook. Gary was compassionate, generous and a true gentleman.

He is survived by his sisters Diane Payne and Lisa Hardin of Virginia. Lisa indicated Gary’s family, “will always remember his infectious laugh, beautiful smile and funny sense of humor”. Gary is also survived by his San Francisco family of Wendy Pelton, Maryann Rainey, Makena Schwinn, Jeff Scott, Pauline Minser and Ray Saracino.

In accordance with his wishes, Gary’s ashes will be interred in the historic, neoclassical San Francisco Columbarium which is located in San Francisco’s Richmond District. Friends and family are welcome to visit.

For those wishing to honor Gary’s memory, please consider making a donation to the San Francisco AIDS foundation, a cause close to his heart.