Michael John Robert Gill

Michael was born in Braintree, Essex, England. His father was a country doctor and his mother was the former Molly Gibbs. As a boy he was chosen "mascot of the day" at the British Air Base during World War II and a decade later, would serve in the Air Force himself. After his discharge, he moved to London, where he trained as a dancer on the theatrical stage. The highlight of his show career was dancing with Sally Ann Howes in "Summer Song". Lack of theater work in the 1960's caused him to change careers and he returned to school to become a butler and chauffeur. His first position was with film actor Lawrence Harvey, who he served for over seven years. He came to the United States to be closer to his sister and her family and became butler to the Marquise de Pins at Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa Valley for the next several years. During that time he was hired to be "Private English Butler for a Day" for an American family on a television show in Los Angeles. By 1972 he became butler and driver to Cyril Magnin, the Chief of Protocol of San Francisco. Michael served many elaborate dinner parties for the "rich and famous" and became a fixture at the finest private affairs in the city during the 1970's and 80's. Highlights of his career were to have served U.S. presidents: Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, Alice Faye, Tennesse Ernie Ford, Beverly Sills, Vivian Vance, Clint Eastwood, Pat Montandon, and countless other celebrities. He worked many special parties for the British Consulate and in April 1982, served Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip when they came to San Francisco on a state visit. Though he was a permanent resident of the U.S.A., Michael remained a proud British citizen and "loyal" to the royal family. He retired in 1987 and moved to San Diego where he enjoyed his retirement relaxing in Pacific Beach. He had a walk-on part in the movie "K-9" with Jim Belushi, but missed his many friends in San Francisco, so he returned in August of 1989, just a couple of months before the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck. A month later, he caught pneumonia and quickly fell victim to AIDS. He became part of the San Francisco General Hospital program in testing new drugs against the disease. Michael died less than a year and a half after the earthquake.