Jacqueline Marie Aitken

Jackie Marie Aitken of San Diego, California, passed away at her home on July 20, 2026. Known as Jackie to her family and friends, she was a native Californian who spent the majority of her life in San Diego, with time also spent in Oxnard, California, and Tewksbury, Massachusetts.

Jackie was born on November 21, 1931, in Los Angeles, California, to John W. and Gladys F. Sterling. She attended Santa Clara High School in Oxnard, where she played basketball and sang in the choir, graduating in 1949. She also attended Mount Saint Mary's College.

Jackie began her career as a model and later worked as a civilian administrative assistant with the U.S. Navy at Point Mugu. She spent more than 15 years at the Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a records clerk before retiring.

Jackie was a devoted wife to four husbands: to Robert L. Forgey, William W. Aitken, William J. Calkins, and Basil "Nick" Galatis, all of whom preceded her in death.

While Jackie valued her professional career and volunteer work, she most cherished her roles as a wife, mom, grandmother, and aunt. She was a beloved mother and advocate to her four sons—“her boys,” as she called them—a devoted and supportive mother-in-law to two, and a beloved grandmother to five grandchildren and one granddaughter-in-law, who knew her affectionately and simply as “Nanny.” Jackie was an unabashed braggard of her grandchildren’s esteemed professional, athletic, and personal accomplishments. Jackie was a favorite aunt to five nephews and three nieces, as well as to more than 14 grandnephews and grandnieces

Jackie was a consummate host to all who entered her life, opening her home to extended family and friends and always saying, “You know, I have an extra room.” She loved all of God’s creatures and gave a home to a multitude of dogs, cats, turtles, birds, and fish during her lifetime. Often, she gave more than she had to give, sacrificing her own needs for those of others.

Jackie volunteered extensively throughout her life, serving in leadership roles with the Clairemont Women's Club for more than 30 years, and supporting the James Madison Warhawks Booster Club, the Parent Teacher Association of San Diego, North Clairemont Little League, the Boy Scouts, and Clairemont Mesa Pop Warner among others.

In her later years, Jackie traveled extensively with her husband Nick, visiting more than 20 countries across Europe and Latin America, including Ireland, Scotland, Great Britain, Italy, and Greece.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Richard D. Aitken of San Diego; Michael P. and Jeanine N. Aitken of Alexandria, Virginia; and Timothy S. and Linda S. Aitken of San Diego; her grandchildren, Tayler N. Aitken, Ryan W. and Dayna Aitken, Patrick J. Aitken, Connor D. Aitken, and Logan S. Aitken. In addition, Jackie leaves behind one stepdaughter, five stepsons, and seven step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her four husbands, one son, Robert “Bobby” Forgey Jr. (1955); and her brothers - and sisters-in-law, Leroy and Beulah Sterling, John and Gwendolyn Sterling Jr., and Donald and Catharine Sterling.

Services and Arrangements Funeral Mass Thursday, August 13 at 9:30 AM Sacred Heart Catholic Church 4776 Saratoga Avenue, San Diego, CA Internment Thursday, August 13 at 12:00 PM El Camino Cemetery and Mortuary 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA Reception Thursday, August 13 at 1:15 PM 4241 Appleton Street, San Diego, CA So we may plan accordingly, if you plan to attend please RSVP at https://partiful.com/e/P7Fe8cyGpcmklKoab7XW?c=5eOM4Dmx. In lieu of flowers, donations may be contributed in Jackie’s name to the Clairemont Women’s Club or the San Diego Humane Society at pet | San Diego Humane Society.