In Memoriam: Dr. Gail Farmer
Dr. Gail Farmer passed away on Tuesday, December 13th after a short hospital stay. She will be deeply missed by her colleagues in the College of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Gail Farmer was an epidemiologist and a professor in the Health Sciences Dept. since 1985. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master of Arts degree in Medical Sociology from CSULB and completed her Dr.PH at UCLA. She served as the Director of the Center for Disability Studies from 1997 to the present. She also served as Chair of the Health Sciences Dept. from 2012 to 2016 and was Associate Dean for Research in the College of Health and Human Services from 2003 to 2012. Dr. Farmer’s research in various aspects of disabilities was funded by the Archstone Foundation, the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, the Catholic Healthcare West Foundation and the St. Mary Medical Center Foundation. Her research has been published in journals such as the Journal of the American Public Health Association and the Journal of Aging and Health as well as the Journal of Community Health. She received the Distinguished Teaching Award from CSULB in 1985 and the Community Service Award in 2017. Dr. Farmer worked with the community and faith-based organizations to access vulnerable “hard-to-reach” populations including older adults and persons with disabilities. Her mission was to empower schools and communities in the development, and implementation of culturally/linguistically appropriate programs that are sustainable and reduce disparities. In addition, Dr. Farmer actively involved undergraduate and graduate students in all phases of her research projects.
On Friday December 16, from 12:00-1:00 the Health Sciences Dept. held a Zoom gathering to remember Gail’s life and many accomplishments.
Dr. Farmer's Funeral Service, held on January 10th at All Souls Mortuary in Long Beach was bustling with friends from the university who came to pay their respects. Dr. Farmer held many roles within the University since joining in 1985. In Dr. Theodora’s Papachristou’s words Dr. Farmer’s “family was the University and the Community.” As such, her funeral service was open to all whose lives she touched.
Theodora Papachristou and Barbara White are in the process of planning an additional memorial service for Gail at the Japanese Garden sometime in January, date TBD.
