Obituary

John Stephen Gasper

On April 18, 2022, John Stephen Gasper passed away at the age of 91.  He was born on November 4, 1930 to William Frank Gasper and Mary Josephine Henry Gasper.  He was the youngest of four children.  Jeanne, William (Bill), Richard (Parker) and John grew up together in Long Beach, California.  John was the father of four children, John Stephen Gasper Jr. (deceased), Robyn Michelle Hogan, Robert (Bob) William Gasper, and Stephen Michael Gasper.  He was a grandfather to seven children, and blessed to be a great grandfather.

Growing up in Long Beach, John graduated from St. Anthony’s High School and loved playing basketball.  He worked at his dad’s Flying ‘A’ Gas Station, along side of his brothers, while attending high school. John developed a deep passion for working on his first car, a 1932 Ford Model B.  He and his brother Parker, enjoyed taking his car to the ’track’, for recreational car racing.  After serving in the United States Marine Corp, John worked nights at the Long Beach Airport, washing down airplanes, while attending UCLA during the day. After graduating with a degree in Physics-Engineering, he was hired at Autonetics, a division of North American Aviation, where he worked in the Navigation Systems Division, designing and producing inertial and stellar-inertial navigation systems for intercontinental missiles and anti-ballistic missiles, aircraft and space vehicles. When Autonetics became North American / Rockwell, and later Boeing, John continued his career, and retired as a Director.  He continued to work as an independent consultant, for an additional 5 years.

An avid golfer, John moved to PGA WEST, La Quinta, California, where he enjoyed his golf, friends and family for 35 years. In his later years, John’s greatest joys were simple. He cherished  spending time with his family, going out to an early dinner or a movie, swimming laps and soaking in a warm jacuzzi, taking a golf cart spin on the PGA courses before sunset, grilling a fresh salmon or swordfish steak, and enjoying a chocolate dipped Dove ice cream bar before early bedtime. John had a passion for classical music and opera, listening to it daily, as he drifted off to sleep. He was an avid sports fan of the Dodgers, Lakers, UCLA and professional golf.  His charming little cockatiel, Harlie, gave him much comfort and happiness.

In Dad’s final days, he wanted his family and friends to know how much he loved them.

? May God’s perpetual light shine upon our dad.

?If you so desire, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, in John’s name, at

https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give.