Gaspar (G.J) Liotta Oct. 22, 1920-June 2, 2012

Gaspar (G.J.) Liotta Gaspar (G.J.) Liotta of Glendale, California passed away peacefully on June 2nd with his family by his side. He was born on October 22, 1920, in Santa Monica, California, to Antonio and Provendza (Liotta) Liotta. G.J. and his younger brother, Victor, were raised in Venice. After graduating from Venice High School as the Senior Class President and Valedictorian in the Winter Class of 1939, he attended Cal State Berkeley and U.C.L.A., earning a Bachelors Degree in Biological Sciences in 1944. On his 24th birthday, he married his college sweetheart, Lois Aline Pullen. They soon moved to Glendale, where G.J. began his teaching career as an eighth grade science teacher at Toll Junior High School. After a few years, he began working on his Masters in Education, while also taking classes at U.S.C. for photography, one of his favorite hobbies. In 1958 he started teaching a photography night class at Glendale College, and in 1960 he moved from his science classroom to the Assistant Principal’s office. He retired from the Glendale Unified School District in 1985 as a respected and beloved teacher, administrator and mentor. He continued teaching photography until 1990, right before his 70th birthday. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Lois Aline, in 2004. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lois and Robert Hupp, his two grandchildren, Angela and James, and his brother and sister-in-law, Victor and Carole (Winkle).
Services will be held at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1020 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, 91202, at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 7th. The Reverend Mark A. Weitzel is the Celebrant.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to “The G.J. Liotta Honorary Endowment Fund”. Gaspar started this fund in 1985 after retiring, when he received $24,000 from the community. At Toll’s annual commencement ceremony, he awarded a randomly selected academic department at Toll $500 and an eighth grade student a $100 scholarship. Checks can be made payable to: C.F.V. and sent to 111 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205. On the “memo” line, write “Liotta Fund”. C.F.V. stands for “Community Foundation of the Verdugos”.