U. City's Mark Gale, inspiration for 'Back To The Future," dies at 95

Mark Russell Gale, who died Friday at the age of 95, was many things: Husband, patriarch, lawyer, Army officer, World War II veteran, city councilman, school board member.

But film fans may not know he inspired the 1985 hit movie "Back To The Future," a now-classic film written by his son, Bob Gale.

As the story goes, Bob Gale happened across his father's University City High yearbook and wondered if he and his father would have been friends if they had attended school at the same time.

Bob Gale wrote the script along with director Robert Zemeckis. It was nominated for an Academy Award for best original screenplay.

The movie stars Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, who travels in time by using a souped-up DeLorean. It has grossed more than $380 million worldwide and was spun off into two sequels, a television show and numerous videos.

Mark Gale was born and reared in University City, enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after World War II broke out, served in the European theater and attained the rank of captain.

On his return home, he earned a law degree from Washington University in 1947, then joined what became the Greensfelder Hemker Gale firm.

In 1948, Mr. Gale married violinist Maxine Kippel, who died in 2010. Aside from the screenwriter, the couple had two other sons, Charles Gale and Randy Gale.

Mr. Gale served one term as a University City councilman. Then starting in 1959, to ensure his children got a quality education, he served 12 years on the University City School Board. He also served for years on the board at United Hebrew Temple.

Known for his ever-present bow tie and quick wit, Mr. Gale, when asked if he knew of any good lawyers, would invariably respond, "No such thing."

There are no funeral services. Donations in Mr. Gale's memory can be made to ZABS Place (zabsplace.org), which provides opportunities for special-need youths.

Instead of a service, Mr. Gale asked his friends simply to gather together, swap anecdotes and eat Ted Drewes Oreo concretes.