Gale Enger

September 12, 1934 – November 23, 2022 We mournfully announce the passing of Gale Norman Enger, 88, of Palm Springs, California. Gale passed away on November 23, 2022. Gale was born to Norman Clifford and Evelyn Odella Enger on September 12, 1934, in Hendrum, Minnesota. The Enger family moved to Oregon in 1939, where many family members and friends still reside. Gale settled in the Palm Springs, California area in 1979, where he lived until his death. Gale's passions in life were family, friends, and music. Gale always loved any kind of get together, large or small, with family or friends or both, and music, of course, was always featured. A highly talented pianist and pipe organist, Gale was a celebrated performer across the US and Europe. As a student, Gale completed a Master of Music Degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon in 1957. As a teacher, Gale taught pipe organ, music theory, sight reading and other musical subjects on the faculties of Princeton University’s Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He accompanied, on pipe organ, the renowned 300-voice choir at Westminster Choir College, particularly in 1964 in a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York, New York under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. Throughout his illustrious career, Gale was a frequent recitalist for the “American Guild of Organists” conventions. He played ten organ recitals in New York City and did a series of recitals at the Vatican Pavilion of the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. He performed many concerts at numerous university campuses, churches and other venues across the United States and abroad. Notably, in 1973, and again in 1987, Gale was honored with invitations to perform organ recitals at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, France. Both times, Gale played to capacity audiences of more than 9,000 Parisians and tourists to standing ovations. In the 1970’s, Gale performed popular music on nine different keyboards in the duo group, “Windstone”, with singer/drummer Rocky Blumhagan. They toured the western United States, including Alaska, and also performed in Europe. Windstone recorded and released two albums during this time. Gale settled in the Palm Springs area in 1979 where he resided until his death. During his 43-year residence in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, Gale was a well-known concert pianist and organist and performed at many benefits, celebrity parties and dozens of sacred music organ recitals to grateful audiences. Another Coachella Valley accomplishment was his 20-year tenure as the solo pianist and accompanist at famed Mario’s Restaurant (“Where they sing while you dine!”), where he mesmerized audiences with his masterful, musical artistry. Gale also accompanied many young talented opera singers in the annual Opera in the Park celebrations. Gale was also a master voice coach and accompanist, not only for singers at Mario’s Restaurant, but also for world renowned opera singers, throughout his career. Additionally, Gale was Organist and Choirmaster at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Palm Desert during the 1980’s and was Organist and Choirmaster at The Church of St. Paul in the Desert in Palm Springs from 1990 to 2000. After Gale’s retirement in 2000 he remained Organist Emeritus at St. Paul until his passing. Gale was honored on November 20, 2000, by the city of Palm Springs, California with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, located on the sidewalks of the famous Palm Canyon Drive, “For his lifetime achievement in the field of entertainment and his contribution to the world prominence of Palm Springs”. Gale was a kind, loving, generous and incredibly talented man, who is profoundly missed by his family, friends, colleagues and collaborators alike. Gale is survived by his loving and committed husband of nearly 27 years, George Amaral Barros, daughters Sharon Evelyn Enger, Sandra Marie Burleson and Michelle Marie Barros, sons Gale Norman Enger, Jr., David Leo Enger and George Amaral Barros, Jr., 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service for Gale will be held at The Church of St. Paul in the Desert, located at 125 East El Alameda, Palm Springs, California 92262, on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 1:00pm, with a reception immediately following in the Church Hall. The interment of Gale's ashes will be located in a columbarium at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. The date of interment is yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Well of the Desert, or the Church of St. Paul’s in the Desert.