John Gasser

On March 3, 2021, we said goodbye to our beloved John Gasser. Born to Adolph and Rose Gasser in San Francisco on October 29, 1941, John attended Lawton Grammar School and graduated from George Washington High School. Drawn to mechanics at an early age, he learned to fix cars with his father and helped build the family home in Woodacre. As a young man, he attended San Francisco City College where he was a member of Phi Beta Delta fraternity, served as a volunteer firefighter, and was later deployed as a National Guardsman to both the People’s Park protest and Watts riots.

John served as Vice President of the family photographic business, Adolph Gasser Inc., for many of the company’s 67 years in business. He excelled at repairing equipment, setting up darkrooms for institutions, and supporting the development of students and professionals in the photographic industry. Many of the company’s employees would become like family to him. John was also a member of the Park-Presidio Lion’s Club and rehabilitated several apartment buildings in San Francisco with his friend Ed Reagan.

In the late 1970s, John purchased a home on Lawton Avenue in Oakland where he met and fell for the woman next door, Ellen Lasher. They married in 1981 and, in April of 1983, John and Ellen welcomed the birth of their only child, Megan Gasser. Ever the proud father, he was the official videographer for every school play and event during Megan’s childhood. John’s love of classic cars helped make him a staple of his neighborhood. He spent hours in the driveway tinkering with his prized 1966 Mustang and chatting with neighbors. In his later years, John faced health issues, but refused to let them slow him down. Every morning he could been seen flying down Lawton Avenue with his walker to his favorite local restaurant for Eggs Acapulco.

John’s love of travel brought him to China; El Salvador, with nephew, Ricardo, and Israel, inspired by Brent Walters, of KGO’s “God Talk”. His faith gave him strength in the face of Ellen’s two-year battle with cancer which eventually led to her passing. John, we shall miss you terribly.

John is survived by his daughter, Megan Gasser, granddaughter, Nile Preston, sister: Dorothy Cox, nephews, Andrew Ausley and Ricardo Guerra, nieces: Sarah Guerra and Martha Noble, cousins: Stephen, Tim and Ruth Gasser, Jan and Jeff Schori, and the Guerra children: Amaris, Jon, Maciel, Terence and Kenneth, Silas and Asher Ausley, along with many other family and friends. There is no memorial planned at this time. Please contact dorothycox707@ gmail if you wish to be notified.