obituaries
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Beverly “Betty” Sanders –
Beverly Sanders (Betty to everyone who knew her) died peacefully on April , , two and half months shy of her th birthday. Betty was born in St. Louis, Missouri in . Her parents, Sara and Jack Cibull, were Jews who had immigrated to this country from Poland and the Ukraine. She grew up during the Great Depression, living with her parents and her brother Bob in Vincennes, Indiana; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Tucumcari, New Mexico. As a girl, she was a talented tap dancer and singer, and as a teenager, she had a singing gig on a popular Sunday Tucumcari radio show. She also helped her family out by working regularly in her father’s shoe store. World War II broke out when Betty was a senior in high school. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles to study dance but decided instead to take a clerical job at Douglas Aircraft, followed by a secretarial position at Warner Brothers Studios. Soon thereafter, she met her future husband, Maxwell Sanders (known as Macky), at a dance for young people that was sponsored by organizations in the Los Angeles Jewish community. Macky, the son of Frances and Leo Sanders of Santa Barbara, had enlisted in the Navy and was going to be shipped to the South Pacific in a matter of weeks. After a whirlwind courtship, they promised each other that they would write every day, and they proceeded to conduct a threeyear long-distance love affair. When Macky returned, they were married in the garden of his parents’ Santa Barbara Street home. Betty and Macky lived in Oxnard
Death Notices KRONEN, Elizabeth R.; of Santa Barbara; died April , (Born: //); she was . Services Pending. Arrangements by Welch-Ryce-Haider -.
for a time and then moved to Santa Barbara, where they raised their children, Trudy and Richard, and where they lived for the remainder of their nearly -year marriage. Betty was a devoted wife and mother as well as a hands-on grandmother. She was a fun-loving friend who was always up for a party. She was remarkably good-natured, had an irreverent sense of humor, and was almost never ruffled. She was uncommonly beautiful, but also genuinely modest. She appreciated stylish clothing—and especially fabulous shoes. She never lost her great singing voice and was known for her classy rendition of “Old Black Magic.” She had excellent card-sense and played gin rummy, bridge, pan, and mahjong with aplomb. She and Macky traveled extensively and enjoyed spending time in their homes in Palm Springs and Acapulco. She was a long-time active member of the Congregation B’nai B’rith Sisterhood as well as Hadassah, and she was a founding member of the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation’s Women’s Auxiliary. She was also on the Women’s Board of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, a member of the CALM Auxillary, and a supporter and patron of the Music Academy of the West. All in all, it can safely be said that Betty Sanders led a well-lived life. She is survived by her husband Macky; her brother Dr. Robert Cibull and his wife Jan; her daughter Trudy and her spouse Amy; her son Richard and his wife Rosemary; her grandchildren Ethan and his wife Hsingyi, Naomi and her husband Ron, Omri and his wife Dafna, Olivia and her husband Marc, Julian, and George; her great-grandchildren Lila, Ari, Levi, Maya, Rose, Shira, and Joshua; and many nieces and nephews. Betty’s family would like to thank her wonderful caregivers—Dolores Weaver, Ryan Hughes, Sally Salgado and Laura Manzano for their compassionate care for Betty while she lived at Maravilla Retirement Community. A celebration of Betty’s life was held this past Sunday at Congregation B’nai B’rith. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation, Congregation B’nai B’rith, or the Music Academy of the West.
Mary Grace Canfield
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LOWE, Mildred Edith; of Horse Creek, CA, formerly of Goleta; died April , ; she was ; Graveside Service - April , pm at Goleta Cemetery. Arrangements by Welch-Ryce-Haider -. TIERSMA, Peter Meijes; of Goleta; died April , ; he was . Private service pending. Arrangements by Welch-RyceHaider -. 22
THE INDEPENDENT
Mary Grace Canfield, veteran actress, mother, grandmother and friend, who was grateful for every day of life, died February , , in Santa
april 17, 2014
Barbara. She was born September , , in Rochester, New York. Mary Grace grew up in “the most beautiful house ever” on Lake Canandaigua in upstate N.Y. As a shy child, she read voraciously. Discovering plays, she knew by age nine she wanted to be an actress. She attended the renowned Hedgerow Theater in Pennsylvania, studying with Jasper Deeter for three years. She then moved to N.Y.C. acting on and off Broadway. There she met producer Charles Carey, who took her on as an apprentice at his summer stock theater in Surry, Maine, for six years. At the end of her first summer, The Bangor News had dubbed her as “Surry’s Favorite” at age ! During this time, she married Charles Carey and her first daughter, Phoebe, was born. Back in N.Y.C., she continued her stage career and her second daughter, Alison Carey, was born. After a divorce, and struggling at times to find work, life changed dramatically when David Swift, director/producer for Disney films, called and asked her to come to Hollywood to play “Angelica,” the upstairs maid, in the movie Pollyanna. When filming finished, she bravely moved to Hollywood with two little girls, a move that brought this talented actress a successful career in L.A. for the next years. Although her résumé is long, she became most recognized for playing “Ralph Monroe,” the inept female carpenter on the series Green Acres, starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. She was in over episodes which ran from – . In , tired of the city, she took a solo drive north with no particular destination. She found herself driving up San Ysidro Road towards beautiful mountains, passing smells of orange blossoms and then a sign on the side of the road: “For Sale by Owner.” She pulled into the driveway and bought a CA craftsman for $,! There she lived happily for many years, involving herself in projects, community endeavors and politics. In the mid ‘s, her Yankee background beckoned. She had a long-held dream to spend her last years living in the rural area of Maine she loved, with the changing seasons. She lived her dream in Blue Hill when she bought an Cape Cod house on a knoll with acres. She was ecstatically happy once again. In , she married John Bischof and rediscovered her second passion – sailing. On both coasts, she made friends easily and always had creative projects: writing, volunteering, recording an oral history of the town and caring deeply about saving the planet from man-made destruction. She was a loving mother and extraordinary grandmother to her three grandsons. To them she was known as “Mimi,” and they were the loves of her life. She enriched each of their lives with many trips, music lessons, books, dinners and her time. As a result, each has turned out to be exceptional young men with talent and compassion and a deep love for their “Mimi.” MG returned to Santa Barbara in to live with her daughter. She reunited with old friends and made many new ones. During the last year
of her life, she wrote a novel and had just completed it, when, sadly, she was diagnosed with cancer She impacted the lives of so many who loved being in her company. She was spunky, smart, independent and had a brilliant sense of humor, but could also be vulnerable. Tears have been shed, as it seemed too soon for her to go in spite of her age. She said that “at , life is still as precious as it was at . Inwardly, I still feel .” She will be loved forever! She is survived by her daughters, Phoebe Alexiades and Alison Carey, grandsons George Alexiades and his wife, Abby, of Montecito, Andre Reinero, Valentin Santana and her husband, John Bischof of Maine. A very special “thank you” to Jill Davis and Susan Jorgensen of The Friendship Center for making every Monday the happiest day of her week. All who knew and enjoyed Mary Grace are invited to a Celebration of Life on Saturday, April , at : P.M. at the Friendship Center in Montecito, Eucalyptus Lane, across from All Saints by the Sea Church, near the bottom of San Ysidro Road. Info: . In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Friendship Center in Montecito or to an animal rescue charity.
Charles “Chuck” Rao –
Charles “Chuck” Rao passed away in Santa Barbara, CA, on March st, , after battling cancer for the past year. Chuck was born in Albany, N.Y. in November of . He attended Christian Brothers Academy in Albany and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding athletic achievements. Chuck attended Northeastern University in Boston on a football scholarship. There he met his wife, Elizabeth, the “Love of his life,” in his words. After college, Chuck and Elizabeth moved back to Albany and would come to raise five children. In the early ‘s he partnered with Legion Liao of Taiwan, and pioneered the industry of manufacturing aftermarket autobody parts to which he recently received a Founders Award by the ABPA. In he moved is family to Santa Barbara, followed his passion, mastered the art of wine making and spent many years cultivating a horticultural legacy. Salute to you Papa Chuck! We love and miss you and want you to know you will be in our hearts forever. Chuck is survived by his wife Eliz-
abeth, children Dia, Nicole, Chuckie Jr, Lizzy and Joey, and grandsons A.J. and Luca. A celebration of life for Chuck Rao will be at pm on April th, , at The Fess Parker DoubleTree.
Daniel William “Stoney” Stonecipher –
Born in Oakland, California to Maxine and William Stonecipher, the family relocated to Newark, Delaware, thereafter, where he attended Newark High School and eventually graduated from the University of Delaware. His early aspirations led him to pursue a life at sea and a short term in the Maritime Academy, but later found his true calling when he enlisted with the Air Force and subsequently the Air National Guard. He was hired with Trans World Airlines in , where he would eventually make Captain and retire after years. Flying proved to be a liberating journey for a free-spirited individual like Dan, traveling and moving around the country making friends along the way. After stints living in Alabama, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Aspen and Antigua, he finally found his permanent home in Santa Barbara in . It was the perfect place to pursue the outdoor hobbies he enjoyed most while raising a family. It was here that he felt most at home with its ideal climate and wonderful people. Whether traveling or taking road trips to surf and ski with his sons, playing tennis or golf, dancing to bluegrass music, sailing the channel islands or motorcycle riding in the mountains, Dan loved to be on the move and enjoy the boundless outdoor life. In his years of retirement he remained active as a member of the American Red Cross’s disaster response team, picking up where his mother had left off in the Santa Barbara community. Those who knew him most will greatly miss his positive spirit, passion for life, and laid-back attitude. On March , , surrounded by family and friends, Dan took off on his final flight after succumbing to a terminal illness. He is survived by his two sons William and John Stonecipher, sister and brother-in-law Joyce and Richard Carnovale, nieces Cecily Conklin and Jennifer Marwill, and former wife Alison Stonecipher. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his name to either the American Red Cross or Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care.