Gary Jung

Gary William Jung, 76, of Redondo Beach, CA. passed away peacefully on August 12, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Gary was born near Venice, California, on August 8, 1949. Gary graduated from South Torrance High School and went on to attend UC Santa Cruz where he graduated from Stevenson College with honors. After leaving UC Santa Cruz Gary pursued graduate studies at Cornell and in Berlin, Germany. One of his Politics professors wrote: “He (Gary) did truly outstanding work: thoughtful, original, and solidly based. He reads widely and carefully; expresses his ideas clearly and with considerable insight; and accords important problems the seriousness they deserve.”

A temporary leave from academia led to a highly successful career working in the high-tech field of crossflow liquid separation using membranes, both polymeric and ceramic where he managed global relationships with his characteristic thoroughness and ever-optimistic spirit.

Gary met his partner Jim Gallagher in Boston. They lived in Boston, Daytona Beach and finally Los Angeles.

Despite a cancer diagnosis in 1996, Gary navigated the challenges he faced for the rest of his life with unwavering positivity. He had a gift for finding the good in every situation and made everyone he knew feel special through his constant and caring contact. As one friend wrote: we will miss his intellect, his sense of humor, the depth of his emotions, and his ironic view of the world. Another told how Gary could talk intelligently about any topic on earth. “He never failed to send me a birthday card, but it wasn't like most cards. His were filled with newspaper clippings and stories that he knew I would find interesting. We chatted about everything from death to politics.” This was Gary. He filled many cards full of clippings each specifically for that person, he carried on in depth conversations with many and made everyone feel special. He will be fondly remembered as the family historian, the manager of the football pool, and for his deep love of walking on the beach, his face turned toward the sun.

Gary was the treasured son of the late Darrell and Virginia Jung and the loving partner of the late James A. Gallagher, his companion of over forty years. He is survived by his brother Steven Jung (Lois Barnes), his sisters Darrelyn Dunmore (Stephen) and Carolyn Cook (Brent), and his beloved nieces and nephews: Jessica Warren, Phillip Jung, Meredith Jendrezjek, Caitlin Bender, Ryan Geller, and Melissa Cook.

He will be inurned with his love, James A. Gallagher at Green Hills Memorial on Oct 27th. In lieu of flowers please consider giving to: The Trevor Projecthttps://tinyurl.com/mzxv2p52 or to the James A. Gallagher & Gary W. Jung Fund for Opera Performances at UC Santa Cruz https://tinyurl.com/2nms2vf2