Gretchen Wyler Defined Fabulous

"Animals should have the right to run if they have legs, swim if they have fins and fly if they have wings."

These eloquent words were spoken by Gretchen Wyler, who passed away in Los Angeles on May 19, from complications related to the breast cancer that we all only last year believed she had beaten. Unfortunately, it returned, this time in her bones. A cruel irony for one who was such a brilliant and exuberant dancer. Johanna and I, as with the many people who knew and loved her, could not be more grief-stricken – the world needed Gretchen for much longer than she was allowed to be here.

Gretchen was generous enough to share her story with us in the March Guest Column of DTBF. Knowing her remaining days might be few, she freely gave some of her precious time to us and to our readers. We will not only be forever grateful to her for that, but also for her encouragement early on and her belief in and support of DareTo Be Fabulous. Support and encouragement was what Gretchen was all about. All who spoke of her never failed to mention how she encouraged them in whatever they tried to do, always a big sister, a champion, a mentor. Gretchen never hoarded the limelight – she wanted all to share in it, all to succeed. Especially when it came to helping animals. Or becoming your best self.

After two decades at the helm of The Ark Trust’s annual Genesis Awards, this last March she sat in the audience, close to the stage, as James Cromwell took over the formidable task of following in her footsteps as master of ceremonies. When the time came for her to present a special award in her name, she made her entrance from backstage with the help of a few handsome gentlemen in a way that made one think of a Broadway star and her chorus boys, an analogy that might have amused her. Fragile and pale, she hit her mark like only a consummate stage professional can, and her exuberant, velvety voice resonated throughout the ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The stage belonged to Gretchen. Afterward, as exhausted and pained as she must have been, she took the time to visit with all of her friends and admirers – ever gracious, ever generous.

Both Johanna and I consider it the deepest of privileges to have had Gretchen Wyler in our lives. Gretchen singled out Johanna in 2002 with recognition at the Genesis Awards for her work in vegetarian outreach to Major League ballparks and the founding of Soy Happy. Her supportive phone calls to me in my own recovery from cancer are memories I will always treasure. For the last year, I have saved a voice message from Gretchen on my cell phone – a comfort to know that I can just punch in a number at any time and still hear that fabulous voice ringing forth cheerfully with “Hello, Patti, darling!” For those few seconds I can pretend she is still here – just a phone call away in California.

Gretchen Wyler defined Fabulous. We deeply, deeply miss her.

Here is a link to the Los Angeles Times obituary.

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