Gary Wolff

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  • Gary Wolff Obituary
    Gary Wolff Obituary
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Gary Eugene Wolff, 71, native son of Aurora, passed to his eternal rest on Thanksgiving evening, November 26, 2020, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Kindness ran through Gary like gold runs through corn in the summer sunshine. He spent his career in service to the greater good, raising funds for non-profit organizations across the country, offering advice and wisdom in both professional and personal capacities, and bringing kindness and compassion to his local community.
Born on March 24, 1949 in Grand Island, Gary grew up in Aurora, graduating from Aurora High School in 1967 and attending the University of Nebraska. He began his 40-year career with the non-profit sector in 1971, first providing consulting services and eventually becoming a leader in his field, working with major gifts, capital and endowment campaigns.
In 1982, Gary was certified by the National Society of Fundraising Executives, serving as the President of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter. Gary and his wife Barbara moved to Santa Fe in 1991, where Gary became Development Director for the National Center for Genome Resources. During his decades of work in New Mexico, he provided management and fundraising counsel to numerous non-profit organizations throughout the state. His last position before retiring in 2008 was Executive Director for the New Mexico Historic Preservation Alliance.
In retirement, his Nebraska farm boy upbringing served him and his neighbors well. He was always available to fix items and devise solutions to problems (with a little help from YouTube, sometimes). He is fondly remembered, not only for being “Mr. Fixit”, but for his ability to welcome newcomers and create a strong sense of community. His legacy, of being an example of decency, unselfishness and kindness, will endure for generations.
A memorial service will be held for Gary in Aurora when it is safe to gather.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Roberta (Becky) Wolff and his grandparents Glenn and Marie Wolff and Bernard and Ferne Thierer.
He is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Barbara Parke Wolff of Santa Fe; brother and sister-in-law Michael and Paula Wolff of Johnstown, OH; sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Duane Wollenburg of Dewitt; stepchildren Emily (Daniel) Crawford of Greenwich, NY and Jonathan Parke (Marciel Irene Greene) of Jersey City, NJ; step-grandchildren Jackson and Penelope Crawford and Nixon and Florence Parke; nephews and nieces Ryan (Vicki) Wolff, Tyler (Jessa) Wolff, Ashley Wolff, Adam (Brooke) Wollenburg, Amy (Nate) Wollenburg Bowman; great-nephews and nieces Anthony and Aiden Wolff, Judd and Jade Wolff, MacKenna, Sawyer and Fitz Wollenburg, Beckham, Mabel and Brooks Bowman; and his Aunt Maxine (Wolff) Hansen of Hampton.