Meet… Gail Packard

By Martie Thompson
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When Gail Packard was growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attending an all-girls Catholic high school, she thought she might want to become a nun. Or maybe a flight attendant. “I love people,” she said. In the early 1960s, she and her friends saw the movie “Where the Boys Are” and they all decided to move to Florida… but she was the only one who did. At the young age of 21, she attended a “country party” and eventually purchased a piece of land in Cape Coral, Florida. She moved there at the age of 22 and the rest is history. She moved to Miami, worked a number of interesting jobs (including at Eastern Airlines), earned her associate’s degree at age 48, and lived through Hurricane Andrew before retiring in 2008 and moving north to Mandarin. She is an active member and public relations director for the Mandarin Women’s Club. She has two adult children and three granddaughters.

Q: What was it like moving to Florida at age 22?
A: After I purchased the land in Cape Coral, I worked for the land company that sold it to me, Gulf American Land Corporation, for about a year and a half. I realized that there wasn’t much for me as a single woman in Cape Coral since most of the people moving there were families. So I moved to Miami Beach and got my real estate license. I spent a few years selling land in the Bahamas (although I lived in Miami Beach).

Q: How did you get involved with Eastern Airlines?
A: After selling real estate for a few years, I learned that you don’t have to be a flight attendant to get flying privileges. I worked for Eastern Airlines for 23 years until they closed. I spent 19 of those years in human resources, where I coordinated the hiring of pilots and flight attendants, and then worked in reservations for four years. At the time, I was married with two young children, ages nine and eleven, when Hurricane Andrew struck. We survived the northern eyewall and it seems strange, but the camaraderie of the experience was incredible. We met neighbors we had never known. Our house was damaged, but we never lost our roof, so we were able to continue living there. It was a long recovery process.

Q: What did you do after Eastern Airlines closed?
A: I learned of a group of business people who helped provide education to laid-off employees. I earned my associate’s degree and attended graduation at age 48 alongside the 20-year-olds. I then worked as an office manager for a financial company and stayed there for 17 years until my children both graduated from college. I retired, happily ended my marriage, and reconnected with a friend who lived in Jacksonville. So I moved here in 2008 and I love it. Everyone is so friendly.

Q: How did you get involved with the Mandarin Women’s Club?
A: I wanted to get involved and meet people. First, I joined the Temple Sisterhood and became certified as a Braille transcriber. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was so rewarding. Then in 2014, a neighbor invited me to lunch at the Mandarin Women’s Club. The group’s motto is “Where strangers become friends” and it’s true. We have a great group of all ages with so many activities to enjoy. We especially enjoy eating! From September to May we have a monthly meeting with a motivational speaker, bingo or a fashion show. We are up to 208 members this year.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I love traveling and have been on 18 cruises. I go to the shooting range; I’m a pretty good shot! I also like playing cards and the Mexican train.

(Visit www.mandarinwomensclub.com to learn more about Mandarin Women’s Club.)

Photo courtesy of Gail Packard
Gail Packard