Gordon Wesley Hoyt

Hoyt, Gordon Wesley, passed away early Nov. 1, 2015, All Saints Day, with his family by his side. Gordon was born Dec. 8, 1925 in Santa Monica, CA to Raymond and Edna Hoyt. The family moved to San Francisco where he developed his life-long love of music, eventually leading to the formation of his dance band, Gordy and the 14 Jitters. While attending George Washington High School, Gordon participated in ROTC and in 1943 he entered active duty in the US Navy. The Navy sent him to the University of Texas where he earned his degree in electrical engineering and, more importantly, where he met the love of his life, Joan Kenney, whom he married in 1947 and with whom he lived happily ever after until her death in 2008. Gordon went to work at PG&E designing electrical power plants, followed by 3 years as the Electrical Superintendent for the City of Santa Clara. In 1964 Gordon was recruited to be General Manager of Public Utilities for the City of Anaheim where he reigned as Energy Czar for the next 25 years. Gordon loved every minute of those 25 years, working tirelessly to get the best rates and service for the people of Anaheim. He reveled in the David and Goliath legal battles where Anaheim was David and Southern CA Edison was Goliath, winning tremendous victories and rate reductions for the people of Anaheim. Upon his retirement in 1989 he was lauded as a visionary by members of the City Council. Throughout his career he was President of the American Public Power Association (APPA), was one of the original members of the Intermountain Power Project Coordinating Committee, was president of the CA Municipal Utilities Association, and received many awards and accolades, including the 1988 Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the APPA. There is even a Gordon W. Hoyt Conference Room in the City of Anaheim office building. Besides Gordon's many professional endeavors, he was also a founding member of San Antonio del Canon Catholic Church, serving on the finance committee and as a Eucharistic Minister, and he generously supported many charities and foundations including the St. Joseph Indian School, the American Diabetes Assoc. and many others. In 2003 he and Joan were Assistance League of Anaheim honorees. Gordon loved his sailboat, the Dandy Dandy, and his family loves to share stories of their adventures (and misadventures) on the high seas. Traveling was a favorite pastime and included trips down the Peruvian Amazon and to Istanbul for his grandson's wedding when he was in his eighties. Piney Acres, his cabin in MiWuk Village in the Sierras, was his heaven on earth and nothing made him happier than to gather there with his family and friends. The annual family Camp-O-Ree was a high point every year. Gordon lived a glorious life of honor, respect, generosity, and abundant joy. Even at the last, when asked, "How are you today?" he would reply, "Dandy dandy." he had a grin and a helping hand for everyone he met. He was the rock for his family, ready to share a song, a story, a laugh, a shoulder, a hand. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him, but especially his beloved children, Gordon Chipman and Kathleen Hoyt; Sally Hoyt May; Claire Marie and John Hahn; his adoring grandchildren Joan Howell; Brian and Zeynep Hoyt; Hillary May; Annie May; Laura Hermanson; Phillip Bulthuis, and his precious great-grandchildren Joseph May and Eleanor Howell. Services will be held for Gordon W. Hoyt on Thurs. Nov. 12, 2015 at 11:00 am at San Antonio Catholic Church, 5800 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd., Anaheim followed by burial at Holy Sepulcher Catholic Cemetery, 7845 Santiago Canyon Rd., Orange, CA. Arrangements are through McAulay & Wallace Mortuaries. His family would like to thank Cynthia, Johnny, and the rest of the angels on earth from St. Joseph's Hospice for their kind, patient, and all-around fabulous care of Gordon during his final illness. You are incredible! In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Joseph Health Hospice, 200 W. Center St. Promenade, Suite 200B, Anaheim, CA 92805.