Gary Condie, a man whose name has been synonymous with com­munity service in the Santa Clarita Valley for decades, died Wed­nesday afternoon, January 1, 2020. It was his 76^th birthday.

Condie loomed larger than life in local nonprofit circles. A certified public accountant by trade, he applied his financial acumen to several organizations that benefited not only from his  mastery of a spreadsheet but also from his grace, humility and compassion – with an emphasis on organizations that serve latchkey kids, high school and college students, and the infirm.

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

Wife Myrna was an equal partner and participant in his charitable endeavors; she shared the 2010 COC honors and was named SCV Woman of the Year in 2012.

Wayne Crawford, chairman of the Santa Clarita Valley Man and Woman of the Year Committee, remembers Condie as a giving, loving, family man, who spent a lifetime making things better for the community and everyone he met.

“All who knew him will miss him,” Crawford said. “He was a tireless supporter of almost all local charities, especially the Boys & Girls Club, where he served in every capacity for nearly forty years. He was generous and giving to all and encouraged others to do the same. He will never be replaced.”

Seventeen years ago the Condies came up with the idea of the Festival of Trees, which raises more than $100,000 annually for the SCV Boys & Girls Club. The club was perhaps Gary’s favorite charity. He started volunteering with the club in 1976, soon joined its board of directors and served four years as its president, in addition to heading up its foundation. The club offers after-school programs for youths ages 7 to 17 at its Newhall and Canyon Country locations.

Gary 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. Following a particular emergency-room visit in 2018, he made what the hospital described as a “generous donation” for the new patient tower. It was one of many such donations 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, and he was a member of the board of directors of the College of the Canyons Foundation. He was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held other influential positions that reflected his dedication to the Santa Clarita Valley community.

‘A Caring Soul’

Brad Larkins, president of the Valencia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Condie was loving family man who was deeply committed to his faith.

Festival of Trees. Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress

“Gary was a caring and loving man who loved his family, the Santa Clarita Valley community, the Dodgers, and with a strong testimony of his Savior Jesus Christ, he loved his church,” Larkins said. “We’ve all been blessed by knowing him.”

City Councilman Bob Kellar hailed Condie as a pillar of the community and said Condie’s passing is a significant loss for the SCV.

“I have known a lot of people in Santa Clarita over the years, and I consider Gary Condie right at the top of the heap for people that are just absolutely phenomenal human beings,” Kellar said. “He has done so much for this community over the years with his philanthropy and caring for other people. God bless Gary. God bless Myrna. We will certainly miss Gary and feel terrible about his loss.”

“He was a real caring soul,” Jim Ventress, former chief professional officer of the SCV Boys & Girls Club, wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday night. “His leadership was amazing. This man led a thriving accounting firm, cared deeply for his family and his church and still made time for some non-profits. I know the many years of leadership he gave the Boys & Girls Club, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, College of the Canyons, etc. He will be missed.”

Bill Miranda, Santa Clarita mayor pro-tem, described Condie as “a gentleman’s gentleman. A perpetual giver including the shirt off his back if you needed it. A spiritual man who loved his family, his community and everyone with whom he interacted. Santa Clarita has lost one of its angels today.”

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

Gary and Myrna Condie present a check for the new patient tower to Dr. Lakhbinder P. Dhanda and Marlee Lauffer of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in 2018. Photo: Henry Mayo.

Education, Professional Career

Born New Year’s Day, 1944, in Preston, Idaho, Condie married Wyoming native 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 – who would grow up and marry Bryan Lake, onetime director of administration at the SCV Boys & Girls Club.

Longtime LA Dodgers fan Gary Condie caught a 2017 World Series game at Dodger Stadium. | Photo: Facebook.

Gary joined Arthur Andersen & Company where he quickly excelled to the level of manager before leaving to start his own SCV accounting firm – Condie, George & Martin, CPAs – in 1975.

He also spent time in other industries, both as Executive Vice President of Aquafine Corporation and President of A.M.E. Label Corporation, before forming Condie & Wood, CPAs.

Condie & Wood, CPAs became Condie, Thomas & Harbo CPAs on September 1, 2016, following the admission of Jeffrey L. Thomas, CPA as a shareholder of the firm in January 2012 and the admission of Heather A. Harbo, CPA as a shareholder also on September 1, 2016.

On New Year’s Day 2018, Condie’s 74th birthday, Thomas was named president of Condie, Thomas & Harbo, CPAs, and Condie assumed the role of the firm’s Chairman of the Board.

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.

Services

Services are to be held Wednesday, January 8, at the Valencia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 24443 McBean Parkway, Valencia 91355.

Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m.

– Stephen K. Peeples and Pearl Obispo contributed to this story.

Myrna and Gary Condie celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Honolulu on August 12, 2019. | Photo: Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Bryan & Heather Lake

Photo courtesy of Gary and Myrna’s daughter, Heather Lake

Photo courtesy of Bryan & Heather Lake

Photo courtesy of Bryan & Heather Lake

Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress

Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress

Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress

Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress

Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress

Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress

Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress

Photo courtesy of Jim Ventress