Gary Long

Gary W. Long, MD died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025 at the age of 87. Born of Amish/Mennonite heritage, he grew up in Fresno and Dinuba, CA. He attended UCLA Medical School and graduated in 1963. Gary became a senior resident and graduated in the summer of 1967. He had enrolled in a military deferment program, so then went to the CDC (Center of Disease Control) in Atlanta, Georgia and served as part of the Smallpox Eradication Program for two years, before he returned to UNM and the Veterans' Hospital. Dr. Robert Stone, first chair of UNM Department of Pathology, hailed from UCLA and he enticed his UCLA resident, Gary, to transfer to UNM. Dr. Stone was like a magnet, drawing the best and brightest to the UNM Department of Pathology. As Dr. Long said, "each knew that something good was happening at the UNM School of Medicine, though in its infancy." Dr. Long was assigned responsibility for teaching the sophomore medical school class. Gary was thrown into this position during his residency as many realized that Gary was the resident who loved teaching the most. Dr. Long enjoyed international travel. As a medical student, he worked on an anti-microbial program in Tahiti and on a anti-filariasis and anti-malaria program in American Samoa. He and the whole American team were honored by the King of Tonga who had heard of the good works that the Americans were accomplishing. He traveled to Brazil to help control and collect samples from a smallpox outbreak. He was recruited to be in charge of the clinical microbiology laboratory at VAMC in Albuquerque, where he remained for 15 years and also met his wife Debra. He attended Grand Rounds at UNMH and enjoyed the Infectious Disease Seminars, especially the annual Infectious Disease Conference held in Carmel, CA. He played a big part of the Pathology Resident Program and served on many steering committees.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years Debra, his sisters Susan Farrell and Sharron Vahlstrom (Wally) and Terry Gabriel (Bert). He had six special nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews and his godson Tom McConnell II.

He was preceded in death by his precious parents Mary and Verne Long and Jerry Farrell, his brother-in-law. He was very close to his grandmother Grace Hamilton.

Over the years, he had built houses, apartments and townhouses. He held all his tenants in high esteem and made many lifelong friends. Gary was a gentle and loving husband. He loved music and taking organ lessons with Rick Wild as his teacher at First Methodist Church. He enjoyed taking cooking lessons with his wife. He was enthralled with the South Pacific and ended up buying a coconut plantation in the Fiji Islands. He had many adventures in Fiji including night spear-fishing in the Pacific Ocean. He had a deep devotion for the Eucharist. He was a member of the Shrine of St. Bernadette, but because he lived in Placitas, worshipped at the San Antonio Mission. He also volunteered as a doctor for a free medical clinic at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Bernalillo and also served for three years at the St. Anthony's Kitchen.

Mass of Remembrance, celebrated by Fr. E.C. Domme, will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church located at 811 Guaymas Pl NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 (Lomas & Tennessee). In lieu of flowers, please arrange for a memorial mass to be offered for the repose of Gary Long's soul or contribute to a charity of your own choosing.