Gary Condie, a Santa Clarita philanthropist and founding pillar of the Santa Clarita nonprofit community, passed away on his 76th birthday on Jan. 1, 2020. He is remembered by friends and family as a giving, loving man who forever shaped the future of nonprofits in Santa Clarita.

Born on New Year’s Day, 1944, in Preston, Idaho, Condie married Myrna Richardson in 1967. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University, Gary moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1974 with Myrna and their young daughter, Heather.

“When I stop and think about what he has done for nonprofits… (Gary and Myrna) got involved in the 70s, so that is 45 years with the Boys & Girls Club — they were early pioneers,” said Jim Ventress, former chief professional officer of the SCV Boys & Girls Club. “He was a volunteer of the decade of the 90s, and that makes a statement right there.”

Myrna and Gary Condie having dinner together earlier in summer 2019 at Bubba Gump’s Restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii as they celebrated their 52nd Wedding Anniversary together. Photo from Facebook.

Seventeen years ago, Condie was a founding co-chairman of the annual Festival of Trees and produced more than $100,000 in funds for the SCV Boys & Girls Club every holiday season.

Condie started volunteering with the club in 1976, soon joined its board of directors and served four years as its president.

Ventress shared that one of the most impressive things about Condie in his eyes was not only his love for giving out awards, but the memory and care Condie held for the children he encountered at the SCV Boys & Girls Club, even long after they had aged out of the program.

“Decades later and at alumni events, he would remember their names when they walked through the door,” Ventress said.

Inspired by Condie, the SCV Boys & Girls Club decided to name one of their yearly awards in his honor, and thus the Gary Condie Special Recognition Award given to individuals and businesses for their support of the club was born.

“Gary was one of the lions of Santa Clarita, and his impact will be long felt and remembered. It is without question a loss to our community,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth, who had known the Condies for many years.

Gary Condie all decked out in his favorite team’s gear.

For his commitment and dedication to the community, Condie was named the 2005 Santa Clarita Valley Man of the Year and 2010 COC Silver Spur honoree alongside Myrna.

“He made Santa Clarita a better place to live. His legacy in our community will live on,” said Jeri Seratti-Goldman, owner of KHTS Radio and 2005 Woman of The Year. “I can’t talk about what he meant to me without crying. It was an honor to be Woman of the Year (alongside him).”

Condie worked his entire professional life as a certified public accountant and served as one of the partners of Condie & Wood, CPAs. It was his financial skills, combined with his dedication to making Santa Clarita a better place, that made him so valuable to the nonprofits of the community.

Condie co-founded the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation in 1984 and served as its first chairman. Years later, as he began to battle health problems, he became a frequent patient at the hospital, making several generous donations for the new patient tower.

“I have had the privilege of knowing Gary and his beautiful wife, Myrna, for many, many years and they are some of the most remarkable people we have here in Santa Clarita. Their philanthropy and charity have helped so many,” said Bob Kellar, a city council member and Condie’s longtime friend. “As a person, he was the most jovial, supportive personality I have ever had the privilege of knowing. He was a great individual and an incredible resource. I can’t tell you the number of people he helped over the years.”

Condie also served as vice president of the Santa Clarita Valley Facilities Foundation, which financed the land acquisition for Golden Valley High School, a member of the board of directors of the College of the Canyons Foundation, and was heavily active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also held several other positions over the years dedicated to improving the Santa Clarita Valley.

“The last thing that ever concerned him was money;  it was all about helping others. He is certainly going to be missed,” said Kellar. “God bless him, and God bless Myrna.”

In addition to raising a daughter of their own, the Condies opened their hearts and their home to more than 15 foster children.

“When you hear the term ‘a caring soul,’ Gary Condie was a caring soul,” said Ventress. “He was just a wonderful man, and (Myrna) and Gary were just inseparable. He will be missed by this community.”

Condie was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, including its Tax Division, and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. He served as past president of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Los Angeles Chapter and served several terms on the society’s state board of directors.

“He was always a mentor to everyone he got involved with. He made recommendations that shaped who I am, in college and in my career, he had a very profound impact on my life,” said Jeff Thomas, Condie’s nephew. “I looked at Gary as this larger than life individual. It was amazing to me how many people knew him, it seemed like everywhere we went people knew him and treated him like their best friend. That was profoundly impactful.”

When asked what he would like readers to know about his uncle, Thomas recommended that they emulate his philanthropic heart.

“I would want them to know that Gary would encourage everyone to give back and to give to their communities,” Thomas said.

Services are to be held on Wednesday, January 8, at the Valencia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 24443 McBean Parkway in Valencia.

Viewing is scheduled to be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

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