LynAnn Gubler McGinn

LynAnn Gubler McGinn

April 7, 1944-June 3, 2024

LynAnn passed away peacefully at the Samarkand Smith Health Center on June 3, 2024.  She was 80 years old. 

LynAnn was born in Chicago, IL to Dr. Kelly and Afton Gubler, while her father attended medical school at Northwestern University.  Later the family moved to Tooele, Utah, a small town south of Salt Lake City. There she grew up in a happy environment and worked as a soda “jerk” in the town’s Rexall pharmacy and was on the high school synchronized swimming team.  After graduating in 1962, she attended Utah State University and graduated in 1966 obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. She was married to her first husband, Greg, who was commissioned in the Navy. They moved to Long Beach, California, where she obtained her master’s degree in1968. Her daughter Jennifer was born in 1972. They moved to Santa Barbara in 1973.

LynAnn immediately became an active member of the community and started her 30-year career as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing working for the Santa Barbara Unified School District.  She loved teaching and was very proud of her accomplishments including collaborating with hearing specialists and families to facilitate better communication for the students she cherished. 

She was remarried to Dr. Edward McGinn in 1983, and became the stepmother of Matthew and Jennifer McGinn and eventually a grandmother to seven wonderful children

LynAnn played tennis, golf and loved to travel. She became an expert at planning family vacations including camping, car trips and traveling the world. She enjoyed knitting, British television shows, was a voracious reader and an excellent cook.  LynAnn and Ed lived in downtown Santa Barbara for 43 years where they made many happy memories.  For the past 4 years they have lived at the Samarkand Retirement Community in Santa Barbara, where they survived the Covid epidemic, developed many new friendships and were always involved in many activities. 

LynAnn received outstanding support from family and friends during her battle with lymphoma.  She was appreciative of every card, flower, and positive message.  We thank the Ridley Tree Cancer Center, the Oncology department at Cottage Hospital, the Samarkand Smith Health Center and the VNA.

She received excellent tender, loving medical care from her doctors, nurses and medical assistants. 

She is survived by three siblings, Minalee Woodward (Joseph), Janet Woods ( Jay) and Dr. Kelly Dean Gubler (Barbara); her loving husband, Dr. Edward James McGinn, daughters Jennifer Nye Miller-Jones (Greg), Jennifer McGinn Kraemer (Steve), and son Matthew McGinn (Shannon); as well as seven grandchildren.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LynAnn’s favorite charity, Direct  Relief (directrelief.org).

A memorial service will be held in the Mountain Room at the Samarkand Retirement Community, 2550 Treasure Drive, on Friday June 28, 2024 at 2:00 pm followed by a reception.