2018 Ms. Senior America known for philanthropy
She owned two restaurants, was “creative spirit”
Gayle Novak, known in the Denver area for her 2018 Ms. Senior America title in Colorado and then winning the U.S. crown, died in her Englewood home Oct. 13. She was 61.
Novak also was known for her philanthropic work and entrepreneurship in the city.
Novak, crowned Ms. Senior America 2018, was scheduled to tour the White House and then anoint the 2019 winner in Atlantic City when she died unexpectedly.
“Gayle had a fiercely creative spirit,” her stepdaughter Julie Curtin wrote in a tribute.
“This last year of Gayle’s life as ‘queen’ was such a testament to the person she was,” Curtin wrote. “While undeniably beautiful, Gayle was a brilliant, tireless and passionate force for good. She embraced the role of Ms. Senior America so easily because she loved to serve, she loved to perform, she loved to travel, and she loved to give back to the community. She was a natural queen.”
Novak’s death was accidental, said her husband, Ed Novak. He said his wife was feeling congested the night before and took Theraflu with her Ambien, leading to her death. He plans to launch an educational campaign about the risks of Ambien, the drug often prescribed to treat insomnia.
The pageant queen chaired major fundraisers such as the Western Fantasy, Saturday Night Alive, the Rocky Mountain MS Center Gala and Cancer League of Colorado’s Hope Ball. She also previously served as president of the Denver Center Alliance, lead singer and choreographer for Skyline chapter of the Sweet Adelines, owned her own restaurant, The Summit Steakhouse, and co-owned Zane’s Italian Bistro with her husband of 18 years, Foodservice Hall of Fame member Ed Novak, and son Zane Anderson.
When discussing her philosophy at the pageant in 2018, Novak said her life had been like a melody.
“There have been high notes and there have been low notes ... yet I learned to persevere to the end of each song. I am grateful for the music and I am looking forward to the rhapsodies yet to come,” she said.
Ed Novak said his wife was “almost fanatical about getting things done.”
“She had so much energy,” he said. “I was so very proud of her, and we had a wonderful marriage.”
Gayle Novak was born in San Antonio and was adopted by Royal and Frances English at 2 days old. Her parents moved the family to Denver when she was 5 years old. She has six adult children — Danielle Hicks, Zane Anderson, Todd Novak, Julie Curtin, Tanya Hsu, Kier Boyea — and 13 grandchildren.
Her death hit hard for many in the community, particularly at her restaurant. Gayle Novak cared for the flowers at the restaurant, and when the staff members learned of her death, they planted fall flowers on their own time in her honor, her husband said.
A celebration of life is planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday at South Suburban Christian Church, 7275 South Broadway, Littleton.
The service is open to the public.
The family has asked for donations to the Colorado Restaurant Association Education Fund (c/o Mary Mino, 430 E. Seventh Ave., Denver, CO 80203), Bessie’s Hope (bessieshope.org) or Cancer League of Colorado (cancerleague.org) in Novak’s memory in lieu of flowers.