Jodi Grace Pacheco

Memory of Jodi

Jodi was the third child and youngest daughter of Patricia Ayers (then Gallon) and Donald Gallon. She was born and raised in San Diego. From the very beginning Jodi’s character thrived on social interaction and fun.

A year after they graduated in the same high school class, Jodi married Scott Dickson. Together they explored life outside of San Diego – on the island of Kauai and in Orange County, before returning to San Diego to build a home and raise three children: Ryan, Lauren, and Matthew. Jodi was happiest near the ocean and enjoyed peace and healing by being at the beach.

Jodi was passionate about presenting the best version of herself and the spaces around her. Her career began in retail, where she got to explore her own sense of fashion and help others find theirs. Later she moved into interior design and merchandise display, first as a sales associate for a high-end home and kitchen goods store, and then as the owner of her own store, the Poached Pear. With the Hobie Cat Company she travelled the country showcasing an active and beach-focused lifestyle. At home, Jodi was known for throwing great parties, cooking gourmet meals, and living a full life.

Jodi is remembered by her mother and stepfather, her sister, her husband, her three children and their partners, and her seven grandchildren.

Reflection from Jodi’s Husband

Jodi and I met on May 27th, 2009. We were an internet match. We met at Vigiluccis on Tamarack for the very first time. Everyone knew her there, the tenders the maître D, the waiters, I thought who is this girl? That was the night I fell in love. We loved to talk, just about anything. I asked her what she did and liked to do and she asked me the same. Man, I knew she was special that very first night. One of the things I told her I liked to do was play beach volleyball, and she asked when I would play again. Well I told her I was playing the Sunday coming up, so she said she might stop by. Well she came and met some friends and chatted, but you could tell she was interested in playing. About two or three weeks later she asked if she could bump it around, and after that she was hooked. Luckily my friends thought she was cute and let her play with them and she got even more passionate about it. I did not know how competitive she could be until she lost a few games. Oh Boy! But she got better every time and she was my constant companion to the beach, unless her grandchildren were in town, then it was all about them.

We married November 21, 2015. We rented a house near the ocean for a week , where we set up a volleyball court, had a few dinner parties, had the kids over, decorated the home as our venue. What a party we threw for ourselves. And did I tell you she was beautiful!

We travelled many places, and she was responsible for my first trip to Europe with some very good friends. She loved her wine, or especially tasting in the Sonoma, Anderson Valley, Geyserville, Russian River Region. Her daughter held her wedding in a vineyard up there, and what a memorable time that was. We loved to ski together, took trips to Squaw Valley, Northstar, we even skied Zermatt, with the Matterhorn looking over us.

Wow could she cook! When she put on a meal, look out it was first class. She loved to cook for all her kids. Their birthday favorites, or just their favorites for the holidays. Holidays were special to her, family in town, Christmas tree decorating, Easter egg hunts, dressing up for parties, ribbons , and candles. She had recipes for everything. She made the best apple pie, and even a great cherry pie, Cause I liked it! Her macaroons were phenomenal. Oh, and did I tell you she was beautiful.

Somewhere in Venice, on a bridge, there is a lock with our names on it. We threw away the keys in another canal so no one could remove it. ( Oh I’m sure they have grinders there.) One night in Lake Como, we had just had an incredible night out, food ,wine, some romance. It was so wonderful, I told her as we walked up to our room, “ all that is missing is fireworks “, and we turned in for the night. About an hour and a half after we fell asleep, we hear a loud “ BOOM”, so we get up and look out our balcony window overlooking the lake, and up above us are fireworks going off. We were flabbergasted and just held each other and she says to me, “ How did you pull that one off”. God loved us that day!

Our adventure continued every day, but mostly cause that was who she was. So many stories, but we were planning on making more.

She had a quote on her work bulletin board. “ Live as if you were to die tomorrow, Learn as if you were to live forever” Mahatma Gandhi

She was my partner, my love, and my life. I only hope to be at least half the person she was.

I love you Jodi. Your husband Fernando.

How to Give in Memory of Jodi Pacheco 

Instead of flowers, Jodi’s family invites philanthropic gifts in her memory to the UCSD Moores Cancer Center.

By Check: Please address a check to the UC San Diego Foundation and indicate on the memo line that your gift is “For fund E6783, in memory of Jodi Pacheco.” Checks can be mailed to:

Jodi Pacheco Tributes

c/o The Gift Processing Office

UC San Diego Foundation

9500 Gilman Drive #0940

La Jolla, CA 92093-0940

By Credit Card: Please visit https://giveto.ucsd.edu/giving/home/add-gift and search for fund E6783 using the search tool.