Melvin Gail Linnell, 67, of Lincroft, formerly of Rumson, died Jan. 16 at Hackensack University Medical Center, of complications from a stem cell transplant. He died peacefully, with his family by his side.
Gail, as he was a known, was born June 15, 1951, in Conrad, Montana, to Melvin Howard and Lillian Marguerite (Chase). He graduated from Sunburst High School and received a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a doctorate in mathematics and statistics from Montana State University-Bozeman. He taught at Florida State University (where he met his wife) while doing his doctoral work.
Gail married the love of his life Virginia “Ginny” (Velasco) Sept. 15, 1976, and they spent 43 happy years together, raising their three children in Monmouth County. He was a valued member of the Middletown and Rumson communities.
Gail spent his illustrious career in the Bell System, starting at Bell Labs in 1978 until his retirement in 2018 from Perspecta Labs. Gail was well known in his field as an expert and international consultant on telecommunications and contributed in significant ways, including his expertise in SS7 and his work on the 1991 telecommunications crash that affected 12 million people. Gail received many awards and accolades, including an award from the Congressional EMP Commission for his outstanding work on developing mitigation strategies for threats to the country.
Gail had a brilliant mind, but he was widely known as a humble and gentle man. He was an honest and true friend, a leader at work, and had a patient and kind heart. Gail was a loving and loyal husband and was devoted to his wife Ginny. His love for his wife and his devotion to her was an example to all who knew them. Gail was active with his children, volunteering in Scouting and coaching their soccer teams, and was always supporting and encouraging them throughout their lives. He loved traveling the world, enjoying good food and wine and the company of good friends. Gail adored his grandchildren and loved spending time with them on the lake by his home. For all of his accomplishments, Gail was first and foremost a family man and was fiercely proud of his wife, children and grandchildren.
Gail is predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Allen, David and Roger. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years Ginny; his children, Jennifer, Christine Wollschleager and her husband Jonathan, and Bruce and his wife Meghan (Cahill); his grandchildren, Sophia, Gwenyth, Sebastian, Everett and August; his sister Susan and her family; his sisters-in-law, Nancy and her family and Sharon and her family; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held Jan. 21 with a funeral service Jan. 22 at the Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank.
In lieu of flowers, contributions for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital may be made in his name at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 or at stjude.org.
