Jan Gabin

Jan Gabin died on December 22, 2021 in his home in Olympia, Washington. He was born May 7, 1951 in Philadelphia, PA to parents Nelson and Millie Gabin. He had two sisters, Amy Beitman and Cindy Rosenbaum. Jan married Jane Ann Owens in 1985. He had three children: Patty, Alec and Spenser. Jan could just as easily be the life of the party as he could hide away reading 18th century literature. He was a trickster and a joker as much as he was an intellectual. Jan was a successful attorney for many decades, spending the latter half of his career working for Capital Health System in New Jersey as General Counsel. His skill as a problem-solver is still nearly legendary. But Jan’s passions were the outdoors and reading. Jan loved to hike in our country’s National and State Parks. In his 50’s he took a raft down the Grand Canyon with his friend Larry. He loved the desert particularly. Zion, Bryce, and Escalante were his favorite places in the American Southwest. Jan loved rooting for his hometown Philadelphia Phillies, as his father did. Jan collected stamps his entire life. Jan was a complex and individualistic person. His sense of humor was equaled only by his intelligence. He believed in laughing at things. He did laugh at things. He made other people laugh at things. Jan had his own brand of spirituality, one that was reverent to nature, mother earth, and natural beauty. Jan is survived by his wife Jane Ann Owens Gabin, Daughter Patty Wood, sons Alec and Spenser Gabin, sister Amy Beitman, and his three Grandchildren, Stephen, Christian, and Oskar. He will always be missed by family and friends. May he rest in peace. Memorial donations can be made to Capital Land Trust: 4405 7th Ave SE Suite 306 – Lacey, WA 98503 https://capitollandtrust.org/ A Celebration of Life will follow at a later date this year.