Gary C. Wiss Jr.

Gary Wiss Jr. (affectionately called “Bliss” by many) passed away at 57 years old on February 16, 2022. Gary lit up the world with his love, kindness, and amazing style. Born and raised in Vallejo, CA where his loving parents Rayma and Thommy Prebula still reside, Gary graduated from Hogan High School. Gary had a true eye for design and a talent in creating beautiful and thought-provoking interiors. Combining his education at California College of the Arts with his love and study of fine art and architecture coupled with a design vocabulary deeply informed by extensive global travel, Gary truly designed his dream career and built a life in San Francisco. He began his career at Brayton Hughes Design and later went on to create his own firm, Wiss Design Studio. Long after departing Brayton Hughes, colleagues continued to seek him out for input and collaboration. Gary designed and created beautiful boutique hotels, corporate hospitality spaces, commercial venues, breathtaking homes, and even a notable tech startup that we all use today. In addition to his love of design, philanthropy and helping others was of the utmost importance to Gary. For many years he dedicated himself to the important cause of affordable and accessible mental healthcare. He served on the board of directors of Access Institute for Psychological Services, a San Francisco based non-profit, and was its board chair for three years. He loved his volunteer work, and he loved bringing people together to do good in the world. He believed deeply in the power of human connection and was a natural leader—inspiring others with his caring heart and generous spirit. His service to the community made a difference in the lives of countless people whose mental healthcare he made possible. Aside from his professional accolades, Gary will most be remembered for the abundance of love he held for his family and friends. Whether traveling to Bhutan, sunning in Capri, venturing to New York City, or enjoying back yard cookouts, Gary was always surrounded by loved ones. He was an amazing big brother to Bret (Bubba as Gary affectionately called him) and enjoyed spending holidays and weekends with his parents in Vallejo. When Bret married his wife Jaclyn in 2009, Gary welcomed her into the family, proudly announcing that he finally had a sister. In 2012, Gary’s niece (and one of the greatest loves of his life) Emersen was born. With an intense dedication and commitment to watching her grow, Gary left San Francisco and moved to Benicia 2019. Gary was a special soul, that continually brought joy and laughter to the people around him. Though he will be missed greatly, there is immense comfort in knowing that his light and energy will continue to inspire greatness in those who loved him. Gary is survived by his mother and father - Rayma and Thommy Prebula, brother and sister-in-law- Bret and Jaclyn Prebula, his niece Emersen Prebula, and his beloved dog Twiggy. A celebration of life will be held on March 20, 2022, at the Catherine Clark Gallery, 248 Utah Street in San Francisco from 2pm-5pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Access Institute in Gary’s honor (www.accessinst.org).

Gary C. Wiss Jr.

June 24, 1964 - February 16, 2022