Burt Gambill Jr. passed away on June 28, 2026. He was a deeply devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a cherished fixture of the Santa Barbara community.
Born in Texola, Oklahoma, on Oct. 28, 1932, Burt developed a strong work ethic early in life that defined his life and achievements.
He graduated from Texola High School before attending Oklahoma A&M College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering with top honors in 1954.
Burt was a proud member of Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Mu Epsilon, Sigma Tau (president), Eta Kappa Mu (vice president), and Phi Kappa Phi societies.
He began his impressive 60-year career professional journey in Schenectady, New York, with GE Engineering Lab, where he attained the GE Advanced Engineering Certification in 1957.
During this time, he also served as chairman of the AIEE-IRE and was active in the IRE National organization. Burt was a special emeritus member of IEEE since its inception in 1963.
In 1959, Burt relocated to Santa Barbara, where he settled permanently and dedicated decades of service to GE Tempo, Kaman Sciences, and ITT companies before his retirement in 2015.
Beyond his professional achievements, Burt was deeply committed to enriching his community. He spent countless hours volunteering and supporting the Goleta Valley South Little League and San Marcos High School, mentoring youth through sports.
His passion for youth development led him to become a proud co-founder of the Page Youth Center, leaving a lasting legacy for generations of area athletes.
An avid and competitive golfer, Burt was a familiar face on the Rancho San Marcos Golf course, where he was an equity owner; and a fixture in the Santa Barbara Classic Golf tournament, competing with passion for over 25 years.
Burt had a deep passion for exploring the world, a love he joyfully shared with his wife. Together, they traveled the globe, visiting France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Russia, Italy, and the Alaskan Fjords.
While he especially loved the leisurely pace of river cruising through Europe, Burt’s absolute favorite place in the world was Paris, France.
Above all, Burt was a family man. He shared 66 beautiful years of marriage with his beloved wife Pat. Together, they built a large, loving family that was his greatest source of pride.
He was preceded in death by his beloved son David in 2009.
Burt is survived by his wife Pat; his children (and spouses) Stephanie and John, Kevin and Pei, and Craig and Kathy; six grandchildren (and spouses) Paul, Jason and Olivia, Brianna and Rachel, Katlyn, Justin and Dylan; and three great-grandchildren Weston, Colton and Hudson.
Burt’s generous spirit, dedication to family, and love of life will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew him.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. For those who wish to honor Burt’s memory, the family requests donations be made to the Page Youth Center or Goleta Valley South Little League.