Gail Bristol was born on September 18, 1942 in Buffalo, NY, and died on December 10, 2023. She came a long way from growing up in Kenmore, NY, a Buffalo suburb, to retiring as Managing Director of the Society of Plastics Engineers {SPE) in 2014. In the years between, after high school Gail attended Alfred State College where she received an Associates of Science degree.

Her first full time job after Alfred State was in sales and marketing at Kistler Instrument Corporation in Clarence, NY. After a stint as a stay-at-home mother with her two daughters, Gail answered an ad in 1981 for an Assistant Program Coordinator for SPE. Gail was hired and enjoyed a thirty-three year career at SPE. As Section/ Division Manager, Gail traveled and conducted workshops for future leaders of the Society of Plastics Engineers. The highlight of Gail's career, was when she volunteered to oversee the spinoff of the SPE Foundation from the Society. Gail held the position of Managing Director until her retirement in 2014.

During her 33 years of dedicated service to the plastics industry, she was awarded the President's Cup and was one of the few people to be named as a Distinguished Member of SPE. Gail fondly remembers Bob Forger as her boss and mentor. Gail attended many Plastic Pioneers Association (PPA) meetings as a guest and in 2006 became an active member with Ted Debreceni and Peter Zacher being her sponsors. Again, Gail contributed her talents and energy to the PPA serving as Vice President from 2013 to 2015 and then breaking the glass ceiling to become the first woman president in 2015. After a busy career in the plastic industry and volunteering as a troop leader for Girl Scouts, for Relay for Life of the American Cancer Society and for the Brookfield Theatre Association, Gail enjoyed spending time with her three grandchildren and as president of her condominium association.