Gary worked for decades in a variety of recovery-oriented services and supports.  Much of his activity focused on Oregon State Hospital but he also provided invaluable training to law enforcement agencies to better equip them in their encounters with people having major mental health crises.  For the the last 10 years of his work he directed the Oregon State Hospital Empowerment Center, a cottage of safety and support for people who were patients at state hospital.  The program was renamed the Sjolander Empowerment Center in his honor.  Everyone who encountered Gary left with a far better appreciation for the challenges of mental health experiences as well as with his generosity, warmth and sense of humor in respecting and supporting the recovery journey.