Obituary: Gail Nicholas Schneider, 85, Of Wilton

Information and Photo Courtesy Bouton Funeral Home

WILTON, CT — Gail Nicholas Schneider passed away peacefully at her Wilton home on Jan. 6, 2024, at the age of almost 86. She is survived by her companion of the last four years, Frank Mabley, and her four children and their families: Whitney Magruder, his wife Jackie, and their children, Matthew and Julie (New York, NY); Justin Magruder, his partner, Diane, and his children, Lucy Jane and Gail Elnora (Great Falls, VA); Tracy Sennett, her husband, Scott, and their children, Jackson, Olivia, and Drew (Redding, CT); and Stuart Magruder, his partner, Heather, and his children, Seldon and Jasper (Redondo Beach, CA). Additionally, she is survived by her sister, Ruth Nicholas Poulton, and family, and her younger brother, Whitney Nicholas, and family. Gail was predeceased by her youngest brother, William.

Born in Los Angeles, CA, in 1938, Gail was the second child of prominent lawyer William Howard Nicholas and his wife, Elnora Whitney Nicholas. Gail enjoyed a vibrant life in Southern California, engaging in activities such as swimming, surfing, waterskiing, and sailing in the Pacific Ocean, while maintaining an active social and academic calendar. She attended Marlborough School in Los Angeles before completing her secondary studies at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA. After her freshman and sophomore years at Vassar College, she returned to California to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of California, graduating in the spring of 1959. She described those two years at Berkeley as the happiest of her life.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Gail became engaged to Jeb Stuart Magruder. They wed in October 1959 and began a family. Moving across the country to pursue Jeb’s business opportunities, the family lived in Kansas City, MO, where Whitney was born. Subsequent moves took them to Evanston, IL, where Justin and Tracy were born, and then back to Santa Monica, CA, where their fourth child, Stuart, arrived, making him a fifth-generation Californian.

Active in politics, Gail and Jeb moved to Washington, D.C. when Nixon won the presidency, and Jeb joined the Nixon White House. In 1975, following the Watergate scandal, the family relocated to Colorado Springs, CO. Gail documented their political life in her book, "A Gift of Love." The family then moved to Princeton, NJ, where Gail earned a master's degree in divinity from the Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1984, Gail and Jeb divorced, and Gail moved to Bethesda, Maryland. She was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in September 1988. Settling on the Chesapeake Bay near Deale, MD, she built her home on a property she called "Sanctuary" and became deeply connected to the land.

In 1990, Gail moved to Sanctuary full-time. She cherished the natural landscape and wildlife, and it was here that she met James Schneider, a Midwestern banker from Kankakee, IL. They married in 1997, but tragically, Jim passed away soon after. Gail remained engaged in the Deale community for over 30 years, supporting local initiatives, creating art, and fostering friendships.

In 2018, at the age of 80, Gail sold her Chesapeake Bay property and moved to Easton, CT, to be near Tracy and Whitney. Finding a spiritual home at Wilton Presbyterian Church, she met Frank. They formed a beautiful couple and shared a deep respect for each other's full lives. Gail, a dreamer and artist who loved the arts, music, and the natural world, touched many lives. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

A memorial service and celebration of Gail’s life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at Wilton Presbyterian Church in Wilton. All friends and family are welcome to join at 1 p.m., and the celebration will be livestreamed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gail’s name to the University of California (Berkeley), Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club, the Dana Hall School, Wilton Presbyterian Church, or the Captain Avery Museum in Shady Side, MD.