Gilbert Ian Collins, 87, passed away peacefully on the evening of November 6, 2026 in his home in San Anselmo, CA.
He is survived by his daughters, Christina and Victoria.
Born in New York on May 18, 1939, and grew up both there and on a farm in New Hampshire. Gilbert earned his B.S. in history from Brown University and M.B.A. in finance from Columbia Graduate School of Business. He served as an analyst for Kidder Peabody & Co and then went on to work as a securities analyst on Wallstreet.
He moved to Marin County, California in 1969, where he turned to private equity management in addition to private investments, later on including real estate in Hawai’i with his wife, Linda Duncan Collins who he’d met in San Francisco and has since passed. When asked why he chose to stay and set roots in the Sunshine State, he would answer with a mischievous grin and a one word answer, “winter”.
Gilbert was a man of faith and an avid reader, a kind soul, and could always find a way to make you smile. He valued family first and foremost, and strove toward living a life promoting values of diversity, justice, liberty, and virtue.
Gilbert’s funeral and celebration of life will be held at St. Peter’s Parish in Oakland at 1 PM on Saturday, November 21, 2026. His burial will be held at Fernwood Cemetery in Mill Valley at 12:30 PM on Monday, November 23, 2026. Friends and family are welcome to attend.
