Gail Evans Janensch, age 83, most recently of Bridgeport, CT, passed away peacefully at home on June 10th. Born Gail Alice Evans on October 3, 1942 in Washington, D.C., she moved as an infant to Evanston, Illinois, where she was raised. Gail was the daughter of Richard William Evans and Alice (Kathryn) Fritz Evans of Glenview, IL. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in History and earned a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Gail fell in love with journalism in her teens, writing for The Evanstonian at Evanston Township High School and The Michigan Daily while attending university.

Gail started her professional career in 1966 at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, KY as a general assignment reporter — one of only a few female hard news journalists in the South at that time. In 1968 her reporting on the doping and disqualification of Kentucky Derby winner, Dancer’s Image, was picked up by Sports Illustrated.

In the newsroom of The Courier-Journal she met Paul Janensch, the City Editor, who asked her to dinner. After first rebuffing his invitation, a year later they started dating and were married in 1969.

Gail then moved to The Louisville Times, becoming the first reporter on either Louisville paper to be specifically assigned to write about consumer problems. A tenacious investigative journalist, she often scooped her (mostly male) colleagues on stories ranging from abortion reform to the perils of rabies. One time she got locked in the cemetery while sleuthing information for a story on grave and grave marker prices.

While raising young children, Gail also lived in La Jolla, CA and Wayne, PA

When she returned to the workforce, Gail applied her journalism skills to communications, first as Assistant Director & Editor for the Kentucky Education Association and, in 1987, as a business executive when she moved to Chappaqua, NY. Gail served as VP Communications for Pentegra Retirement Services as well as for Greenfield Online, a market research company. She also was Chapter President for the Public Relations Society of America.

Gail lived in Rowayton, CT for over 15 years, during which time she again reinvented her career, becoming a high school Social Studies Teacher and then School to Career Facilitator in the Stamford Public Schools. She also held leadership positions in her local beach association.

Once retired, in 2011 Gail moved to Bridgeport, CT where she became an active member of the community, volunteering and serving as a board member for several civic organizations including the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, the Connecticut Democratic Party, Bridgeport Public Schools, and the Connecticut Continuing Care Residents Association. She also independently mentored several young people, focusing on education and career development. Gail enjoyed spending many winters in Vero Beach, FL.

While Gail was accomplished and driven, she also loved entertaining and having a good time. In Louisville and Rowayton especially, Gail would throw large parties. In Louisville her Kentucky Derby parties included hundreds of people, including the mayor, governor, and other civic leaders. In Rowayton she threw an annual summer party under a tent that she would keep for several weeks for spontaneous get togethers with neighbors. She was known for starting conga lines at those parties and other events.

Gail enjoyed sailing and power boating with her husband, Paul, wherever they lived. While Paul was the captain, Gail was an enthusiastic first mate, trimming the sails, cooking over a grill mounted to the railing, and casting and fending off from the dock. She served as the Commodore of the Rowayton Yacht Club on Five Mile River.

Loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Gail was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Paul Janensch. Gail is survived by her adult children, Laurel Syah (Anto) of Westport, CT, William Janensch of New York City, and Michael Janensch (Philip Ficks) of Cincinnati, OH; and grandchildren, Adam and Lukas Syah, also of Westport, CT. Her brother, Bill Evans, predeceased her.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Association .