Gale St. John

Gale St. John of Winston Salem, NC died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, at home Saturday,
June 22, 2024. She was 87 years old. Gale was born on Feb 17, 1937 in Naugatuck, Ct.
Gale is predeceased by her parents Frank and Lenore (St. John) Balinsky and her son Curtis Paul Ewer.
She is survived by her sister Francia Smith, son Douglas Frank Ewer, daughter in-law Diane Numora,
daughter Kathryn (Kari) (Ewer) Finn, son in-law Dennis Finn and grandson Gareth Finn.
A born educator, Gale received her bachelor’s degree in English from Lake Erie College, OH and her
Masters of Education degree from Framingham State Teachers College, Ma. Her career saw her as a 4 th
grade teacher at Framingham Elementary School, Community Education Director in Sandwich, Ma,
Assistant Director of Adult Education for Massachusetts, and Director of Community Education for
Broward County, Fl. Additionally, Gale was faculty instructor and the University of Miami and Florida
Atlantic University. She retired to Winston Salem, North Carolina in 2004 to be closer to her grandson.
Gale was a lifelong learner. Eager to dig deeper into any subject that enticed her. Be it hot air
ballooning, roller skating, elephants, compassionate communication, or AA, Gale did her best to learn as
much as she could. With each subject, she gained community as she willingly opened her home to
anyone and everyone who was as passionate about learning as she.
Gale was a knitting warrior. She knit pussy hats for as many as she could for the 2016 Women’s March
on Washington, which she also attended. Many baby kangaroos were helped by the joey pouches she
knit after they were orphaned the wild fires in Australia. She found strength, love and support from her
treasured Stitching Porch knitting group. She leaves behind a closet of knitted items shared with family
and friends.
When her grandson desired a better relationship with her, she learned about Non-Violent
Communication. She became an advocate and mentor to many people around the world about this
peaceful form of communication.

When a friend mentioned the plight of grandmothers in Africa, raising grandchildren that had been
orphaned from the AIDS epidemic, they together, formed the Naynya Project. Through the project, they
helped provide funding for the grandmothers, to receive education and training to begin businesses to
sustain themselves.
Gale was an avid world traveler, book enthusiast, and published author. Her talents, love, and support
will be missed by all those who knew her.
A celebration of Gales life will be held:
Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 12:00pm
Fellowship Hall of the Trinity Presbyterian Church
1416 Bolton St
Winston Salem, NC
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you consider donations to:
Trellis Supportive Care
101 Hospice Ln
Winston Salem, NC 27103
https://www.trellissupport.org/
AARF of Winston Salem
302 Thurston St
Winston Salem, NC 27103
https://www.aarfws.org/
Center For Nonviolent Communication
https://www.cnvc.org/donate

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