From the November 1, 2005, Fort Collins Coloradoan.
Gilbert S. Pastor, born Sept. 13, 1931, of Chandler, Ariz., died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005, from Alzheimer's disease. Gil is survived by his wife, Ann; sons and daughters-in-law, Gib and Ann and children, Bret, Kyle and Erik; Mike and Terri and children, Hannah and Jared; and Matt and Pam and daughter, Katelyn.
Gil was born Sept. 13, 1931, in Loveland, to Helen and Gustav Pastor Jr., as their only child. His grandparents on his father's side were immigrants from Germany and made their home in Fort Collins along with their six children. His grandfather on his mother's side was an immigrant of Czechoslovakia.
After graduating from Fort Collins High School in 1949 as Athlete of the Year, lettering in four sports, baseball, basketball, football and track, and voted All Conference in the sports, Gil earned a bachelor of science degree in 1953 from Colorado A&M in Fort Collins, later named Colorado State University.
Upon graduation from college, along with a four-year ROTC program, he served in the Air Force as a first lieutenant of Special Services for two years in Spokane, Wash. In his capacity of Special Services officer he coached the Spokane, Wash., Air Force basketball team to a conference championship. Sports and coaching were his passion.
After his term with the military he was employed with Continental Oil Company -CONOCO - as a salesman in Denver. Gil loved the town of Fort Collins and wanted to raise his family in a "small town" atmosphere. He left CONOCO in 1962 and went into business for himself as a Skelly Oil Company jobber.
In 1970 he liquidated the business and went to graduate school at CSU and worked part time for the Fort Collins Coloradoan sports editor, covering high school athletic events, writing articles and interviewing coaches and players. And also during this time he was business manager of student publications at CSU.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes, Ariz. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gideons International, P.O. Box 723, Chandler, AZ 805244