Obituary of Gary Andreassen

Gary is a nephew and Godson to my mother’s (Doris Schlayer Wintjen’s only sibling Iola Schlayer Andreassen. Our families were VERY close… during my childhood every holiday, birthday, celebration and vacation was with them. Gary’s sisters, Janice and Linda were not only cousins, but best friends to Cheryl (my sister) and I. I could go on and on about the memories of our families but our favorite thing to do was to sneak up on my much older (6 yrs) male cousin Gary and see what he was up to! Back then, 6 years was a big age difference and I am sure we annoyed him to no end, but he never told on us and never told us to go away! He was always a dear kind person. He was that same kind caring person as an adult, a son, a brother, a husband and a father. Everyone loved Gary for his sweet nature very similar to his father, my Uncle Eddie! I will miss him but know his reunion in heaven with family is another joyous celebration in heaven!

I will always remember my visits to Katherine and Gary's houses in West Windsor and Montgomery. I will always remember Gary for his staunch love for Katherine, Alex and Elizabeth and the rest of his family. We had a mutual love of libraries which was a way of connecting us. I remember when he started his second career as an extra in movies, and tv shows- he was very proud to show off his credits! I know he's in heaven receiving God's grace as he shared his own on earth. Anne Baker Freehold, NJ

Our deepest sympathy at this Our prayers and thoughts are with all the family at this sorrowful time. Our deepest sympathy. Revelation 21:3,4 Love, Bradley & Lenore

Most of my memories of my cousin Gary, begin in our childhood. Our birthdays were almost exactly a year apart, which made us kind of extra close. The early years consisted of birthday parties, as well as many holidays & picnics. We'd often go down the block from his home, to the monkey bars & talk while we were climbing around. I recall one Christmas when we were teenagers. I was working at Macys in Hempstead. My mother was asking me, regarding a Christmas gift for Gary, "What can I get Gary?". There was a vinyl record dept within Macys. I said, "How about an album?". She said ok & asked me to assist. I was a Beatles fan but Gary was a staunch Rolling Stones fan, so I helped her choose. I think Gary was rather astonished by this gift. Years later he would often bring up, "Hey, Judy, remember when your mom got me the Rolling Stones album?" & we'd have a good laugh. So many different memories, when we were growing up. As kids, I can't recall how many times we went down to the piers in Manhattan, to see the grandparents off on yet another "Ocean Crossing" on the large ship back to Norway. We were told each time that we wouldn't see them again. There were tearful good byes. Then a year later, the grandparents would return & then there were grand reunions! When we were in our Twenties, we happened to end up in Norway together @ the same time @ the grandparents' house, one winter. Our relatives lived down the road, out of town a bit. They were amazed when Gary came jogging down to their home, in his jogging shorts in the frigid Norwegian temps. We laughed about that memory also. So there we are as kids, teenagers, in our 20's & then into our 30's. When I got my home in Freehold, N.Y. Gary & his family came to our housewarming BBQ. That too was a special time. Another memory was a birthday party in the Hamptons for his mom, my Aunt Iola. We went to the beach & had a lovely time. In our 30's, we went our own ways. The miles separated us, but we'd see each other at special times at the Andreassen home in Bethpage. Then Gary met the Love of his Life. He & Katherine created a beautiful family & life together. Gary became a successful businessman. He never let that success get to his head. He always remained down to Earth, kind & outgoing. He made everyone feel welcome & comfortable at all times. He was a kind & loving man. He engaged easily in conversations & could often get people laughing about life in general. His family was his most treasured asset. He will be so very missed. Until we meet again, dear cousin Gary. I love you & will miss you. Forever in my heart, Love cousin Judy

The first time I met Gary was on a Shoot of Season One of Mrs Maisel TV Shoot- and quickly new he would be a friend as his wife Katherine is- I Met Katherine on a SNL shoot in Central Park and became quick friends- the definition of Love and friendship is Gary and Katherine- Gary you will be missed.

Gary’s grandmother and our grandmother, both Norwegians, were good friends, and thus Gary’s dad, Uncle Eddie, and our dad, Ken, grew up together. Our fathers’ friendship continued into their dating years, and once both couples married, the four were best friends for the next 70 years or so. My sisters and I grew up with Gary, Janice, and Linda, making holiday visits to each other’s homes, attending Sunday school picnics, and enjoying backyard barbecues together. Gary was vastly outnumbered by all us girls, but he dutifully attended these family gatherings, and we enjoyed the novelty of having a boy around. As the Andreassen and Svendsen kids went off to college and started our own lives, we stayed up-to-date on Gary and his sisters through our parents, with weddings being one of the few times we saw each other. Gary was a happy man the day he married Katherine! In our “later years,” we’ve renewed the tradition of family gatherings, and we’re so thankful we were able to celebrate Gary’s 70th birthday with him. He was proud of his wife and daughters, enjoying life in NYC and out in Southampton, and relishing a second career in the movie biz. We’ll remember the happy, vibrant man we saw that day. Karen Solenick, Deb Thonsen, and Pam Lee