Alec Lambie

December 19th, 1942 - January 21st, 2018

John Alexander Lambie (Alec) passed away peacefully on January 21st, 2018, in San Francisco, California, while surrounded by his family, after surviving a devastating stroke in 2009.

Alec was born in Los Angeles to Edla Muir, a noteworthy Southern California architect, and Clyde Lambie, who emigrated from England. Alec was an only child and was raised in Santa Monica, California. He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1960. He attended San Fernando Valley State College (now Cal State Northridge.) Alec also served six months of active duty in the U.S. Army and four years in the U.S. Army Reserve.

With his voracious appetite for life and his keen intellect, Alec cultivated and pursued a wide range of interests during his young adulthood including acting, art, photography, construction, carpentry, building restoration, writing, volunteer work in prisons, business entrepreneurship, and travel.

Alec was married to Nancy Dilworth from 19651974. Their son Oban was born in 1969 followed by their son Sampson in 1974. Alec was married to Martha Goman from 1979-1984 and their daughter Kenly was born in December of 1978. He enjoyed a long relationship with Robin Smith in his final years.

In 1977, Alec founded General Contractors Inspection Service, one of the first home inspection companies in the nation. He valued his warm and longstanding friendships with his colleagues. GCIS remains an active and vibrant company to this day.

Alec was active in San Francisco politics and took great pride in having served on the San Francisco Assessment Appeals board for many years. Progressive, personable, and compassionate, he also wrote political speeches and helped organize local political campaigns in the city he so loved.

Away from work Alec was a self-proclaimed “jack of all trades, master of none” and delighted in riding motorcycles, flying small planes, sailing, playing tennis, skiing, fly-fishing, traveling, reading, writing, cooking, organic gardening at his second home in Taos, New Mexico, and dry-martini drinking. His zest for life, playful humor and irreverent wit were infectious. He was a devoted and loving father, took immense joy in his children and grandchildren, and was a loyal friend to many.

Alec is survived by his sons Oban (wife Jennifer Hull) and Sam (wife Kate Czark), his daughter Kenly (husband Michael Shankman), and his five grandchildren; Jack, Liam, Nash, Noa, and Elijah.

A memorial in honor of Alec will be held on Sunday, February 4th, at 5:30pm at The Progress restaurant in San Francisco. All who knew Alec are invited to attend and to join us as we honor him and celebrate his life.

Alec supported the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, in Taos, NM. Donations can be made at http://youthcorps.org/support/

We are profoundly grateful for all of the caregivers and friends who supported Alec during the last years of his life.

We will never forget you, Alec.