Gigi Roberson

Gigi Gysin Roberson, with the loving support of her family, passed peacefully onAugust 20, 2024, in Palm Desert, CA. Born on October 4, 1924, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the daughter of parents John Emmanuel Gysin (d. 1934) who immigrated from Switzerland, and Grace Martha Gysin (d. 1962) from the United States. Her only sibling, brother John David Gysin, died in 2019. 

After graduating from the Summit Country Day School (a private Catholic school), she attended the University of Cincinnati and UCLA (pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority), receiving her undergraduate degree in home economics (1942). 

From an early age, Gigi excelled at her athletics, including ice-skating, snow skiing, swimming, soccer, tennis, and golf, earning her the title of Club Champion at the Sunrise Country Club, Rancho Mirage. Throughout her life, Gigi demonstrated enormous creativity as a passionate crafter, designing and beading elaborate home decorations and clothing accessories. 

Her exquisite fashion sense translated into working as a professional model into her eighties. For all who knew or ever met her, she was known as the best-dressed lady, elegant and always classy. 

In 1979, she met and soon married the love of her life, Joe Earle Roberson (d. 2022). Over decades, they traveled to numerous rock and gem shows. Regularly visited by area schools as an educational experience, their world-class private mineral collection is now on display at the Rancho Mirage Public Library. 

Gigi's other passions included music, traveling abroad, films, jewelry, and spending fun times with her four boys, extended family, and dear friends, of whom she had many. 

She is survived by her four sons, Gustav (Robin) Gysin, Tim (Vikki) Gysin, Greg (Veron) Grimes, Gary (Michelle) Gysin, four grandchildren, Spencer, Jess, Connor, and Kirsten, and four great-grandchildren, Cooper, Jett, Hailey and Finn. A celebration of Gigi's life will be held in October, with more details coming.