Gary Earl Condie

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 76th 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.

Click each photo to enlarge.

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.

Festival of Trees. Courtesy of Jim Ventress.

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.

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.

"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."

With daughter Heather Condie Lake.

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.

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.

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.

Photo courtesy of Heather and Bryan Lake.

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 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.

Photos courtesy of Jim Ventress.

Gary Earl Condie passed away peacefully at home on January 1, 2020, his 76th birthday, surrounded by family. Gary was born January 1, 1944, in Preston, Idaho — a New Year's baby. He was the first of four children born to George Lyman and Florence Petty Condie.

Gary was raised in Southeast Idaho, graduating from Snake River High School in 1962. After graduation, Gary left Idaho to attend college at Utah State University. One year later he left the United States to serve a 2½-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany, learning both the German language and a love for the German people.

Gary returned to Utah State after his mission where he met Myrna Richardson. They got engaged after one week of dating, married five months later, beginning a journey together that would last the next 52½ years.

Shortly after being married, Gary and Myrna transfered to Brigham Young University where Gary earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting. Gary's graduation present was the birth of their new baby girl, Heather. Gary, Myrna and Heather left Utah for Los Angeles, where Gary went to work with the international accounting firm, Arthur Andersen & Co. Thus began a storied career which eventually saw Gary leave Arthur Andersen to start his own accounting practice.

Gary had the privilege of working with many business partners throughout his career and retired from this life as Chairman of the Board of Condie, Thomas & Harbo, CPAs. Gary received numerous accolades throughout his professional career, including being named one of the Top 30 Accounting Executives in Los Angeles County, as well as one of the Top 25 CPAs in the Greater San Fernando Valley and multiple appear­ances in the list of the Top 51 Most Influential Individuals in the Santa Clarita Valley.

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Gary loved Santa Clarita Valley, and he and Myrna devoted countless hours to making the community a better place to live. Gary served as Founding Chair of the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hos­pital Founda­tion, a co-founder of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Foundation, as well as member of the Club's Board of Directors and Founda­tion Board of Directors, including time spent as President.

Gary was also a co-founder of the Santa Clarita Valley Facilities Foundation and spent time as a member of College of the Canyons Foundation Board of Directors and on the Child and Family Center's Advisory Board. Gary had a unique ability to get others to join in his philanthropic and community efforts, and many nonprofit organizations in the valley benefitted from his efforts and generosity.

Gary was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His volunteer efforts included time spent as Bishop, then nine years as counselor in the Mission Presidency of the California San Fernando Mission and as a member of the Southern California Public Affairs Council, where he has been responsible for organizing the annual Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family Night at Dodger Stadium for the past 17 years. Gary bled Dodger blue, and we're certain he's now playing on his own personal field of dreams.

Gary is survived by his wife, Myrna; their daughter Heather (Bryan) Lake; grandsons Chase, Kyle and Dylan Lake; and sisters LaPriel (Kay) Wixom, Colleen (Rex) Thomas and LouJean (Mike) Katseanes. Gary is also survived by 15 foster children, along with many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his father, George Condie, and mother, Florence Condie.

Services will be held Wednesday, January 8, at the Valencia Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 24443 McBean Parkway, Valencia 91355. A public viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Santa Clarita Valley Boys & Girls Club (www.scvbgc.org/supporting-the-club/), Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation (www.henrymayo.com/support-henry-mayo/giving-opportunities/give-now/) and College of the Canyons Foundation (www.canyons.edu/administration/ foundation/support/).