obituaries
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Darcy Lynn Aston
Carlos Victor Hunt // – //
Thaten Jimmie Anthony
Before daylight on September , , Darcy Lynn Aston slipped from our lives, her beloved husband, Nels Berthold, by her side. Darcy was golden light, fierce love, and strength, with an exuberance that rendered her a force of nature. She shined her enormous love and pride on her cub, Bryce, her family, and her ever widening tribe of friends. She was unequivocal in her love and her commitments and devoted her life to preserving our most precious resource: water. She made the world a better place and we are blessed to have known and loved her. Darcy was born on January , , in Bakersfield, California. In , her parents, Bob and Marilyn, moved Darcy and her siblings—Robert, Suzanne, and David—to Walnut Creek, CA. Darcy graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in , and from UC Santa Barbara in . After college she worked as a naturalist in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park, and then returned to her college town to work for the County of Santa Barbara in water conservation and pollution prevention. In , she and Bryce moved to Petaluma to join Nels and his son, Eli. There she directed FishNet C., and later worked for the Napa County Sanitation District. Darcy devoted her career to education, outreach, and stewardship of the environment. Darcy was an avid world traveler, but she considered the Sierra Nevada her spiritual home. She and Nels and their children enjoyed many adventures together, backpacking and camping throughout the West. Darcy found joy in simple things: growing and canning vegetables, preparing delicious food, swimming, biking, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. Darcy faced pancreatic cancer with great courage and lived the days left to her surrounded by her many friends and devoted family. In addition to her husband, daughter, and stepson, Eli, Darcy is survived by her mother and siblings. Her father preceded her in death. A celebration of Darcy’s life will be held on October , , at p.m. at the Post Wellness Center, A Weller Street, Petaluma. Visit Darcy’s CaringBridge page for details. Contributions in Darcy’s memory may be made to Friends of the Petaluma River at H North Water Street, Petaluma, CA , or at www.friendsofthepetalumariver.org. We will forever miss our Water Girl.
Carlos Victor Hunt, of Los Angeles, California, died unexpectedly on August st, , at years of age, following a long battle with depression. Carlos was born on July th, , to Richard Lewis Hunt and Nina Lazaro Hunt, and grew up in Santa Barbara, California with his younger siblings Alexander, Jeremy and Jessica. At Santa Barbara High School, UCSD and UCLA, Carlos met many of his lifelong friends and developed his skills as a filmmaker, writer and editor. Carlos worked as a production assistant and freelance video editor and was especially proud of his work on special features for DVDs for shows like Lost and movies like The Hunger Games and Pirates of the Caribbean . He also edited documentaries including the pilot for the PBS series Food Forward. Carlos was an environmentalist and could often be found camping with his friends or riding his bike. He believed in living his life in accordance with his beliefs and would often weigh in on whether something was “punk rock” or “not punk rock.” Carlos loved his friends, good music of all kinds, raccoons and his cats. His sense of humor, thoughtfulness and kindness will be dearly missed. Carlos is survived by his parents Richard and Nina Hunt of Santa Barbara, CA; brother Alexander Hunt of Oakland, CA; brother Jeremy Hunt of Marietta, OH; sister Jessica Dominguez of Santa Barbara, CA; and nieces and nephews. Carlos leaves behind many close friends, especially Paul Wisner and Nathan Wilson. A celebration of Carlos’ life will be held on Saturday, October th at : p.m. at the Crystal Springs Area of Griffith Park in Los Angeles. For more information, please contact Paul Wisner via email at rocknsurf@ yahoo.com. Donations in his memory may be made to Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara.
Thaten Jimmie Anthony, , died in his home in Santa Barbara California where he passed away with a smile upon his face. Born in Dallas, TX, May , to George and Rose Thaten, he is one of five children who preceded him in death: Harry, Michie, Pat, and Mina. Jimmie moved to Selma, CA, where he worked as a Masonry contractor. He met his wife Betty Anne; they had three children: Jimmie, Mike, and Rose Anne. His son, Jimmie, worked with his Dad from the age of eight years old. Jimmie and his son moved to Santa Barbara, CA, in with $,. in their pocket and an old work truck. They went to work doing Masonry side by side, opening their business Mission Masonry, which became an established business. So many people in SantaBarbara knew Mr. Thaten, that a lot of their work is virtually word of mouth. Jimmie loved his work, and did so until the day he died, working together for years as father and son. Jimmie will be rembered for his cowboy hard hat “that hat saved my life many times”. He is survived by his son Jimmie M. Thaten, Vicki, grandchildren Sharon, Jennifer, and Christopher, great grandchildren Madison, Matthew, Clint, Clara, Clayton and spouses Tim and Sarah. A very kind and generous man always thinking of others a warm and loving sprit.
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Service: Friday, September , : pm Santa Barbara Cemetery Channel Dr., Santa Barbara, CA Celebration of Life Saturday September , : PM Ward Dr. Club House BBQ
Sharkey Fink
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Valeri Ann Robb-Fuller // - //
Valeri peacefully passed away in Santa Barbara, CA. She is survived by her son Martin Whitkind, her grandson Sasha, her mother Mrs. Lillian Fuller and her brother David Fuller. She was a devoted mother and accomplished graphic artist. She was a successful painter and gallery owner in Taos, New Mexico. She would want to be best known as God’s humble servant. Celebration of life will be October th, at pm. for information please contact Donna at dhillmanh@gmail.com.
Charlotte “Sharkey” Flintermann Fink of Santa Barbara, California, passed away gracefully and peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family after a brief battle with cancer. Sharkey was born in Detroit, Michigan the eldest of five siblings and was raised in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. She spent most of her nearly summers at Higgins Lake, Michigan. She attended Wells College and received a B.S. from Columbia University in . Also in , she married John Fink, an actor,
and they resided in New York City before moving to Los Angeles in . In , John and Sharkey moved to Santa Barbara where they settled and raised their children. She was a supporter and board member of the Cancer Victors and Friends and was instrumental in founding the Waldorf School of Santa Barbara. She homeschooled her children through eighth grade and was proud to see them both go on to graduate from Harvard College. Sharkey was a teacher in every way - she created a beautiful and love-filled home where she tutored and guided countless people in topics from the mundane to the divine - a master craftswoman who gave lessons on subjects from carpentry to cross-stitch, and a sage who taught love and laughter. Hyper-competent, creative, and good-naturedly competitive, she excelled at everything she tried, earning a reputation as a ping-pong master, a trivia whiz, and an accomplished painter. She was a force of nature. Sharkey was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Mary Flintermann, her daughter Phoebe Fink, and her brother Andy Flintermann. Sharkey is survived by her husband John Fink, her sisters Barbara Alter and Mary Smart, her brother Rocky Flintermann, her children Andy Fink and Lily Harrington, their spouses Kelly Brogan and John Harrington, her three granddaughters Sofia and Lucia Fink and Charlotte Harrington, and countless other friends and family whose lives she electrified and inspired.
Joanne Maureen Miller // – //
Joanne Maureen Miller passed away peacefully in her home in Santa Barbara in the early morning of September , . Joanne was born on October , , to Cyril and Elizabeth Schmidt in Flint, Michigan. After graduating from St. Michael’s school in Flint, and then the University of Michigan, Joanne married her beloved Burton Miller on June , . Burt and Jo began their life together in the midwest, raising their family, starting their careers and getting involved in community service. After several relocations, the family settled for good in Santa Barbara in . Joanne took up teaching and environmental activism. She founded the Foothill Preservation League. She earned a Masters Degree in Environmental Biology at UCSB in . She served on the Santa Barbara Planning Commission for many years, and twice ran for the Santa Barbara city council. She founded an affordable housing development company, Homes for People, which sponsored the construction or rehabilitation of hundreds of units of sweat-equity housing in Santa Barbara. Joanne was preceded in death by her husband Burton in Santa Barbara in . She is survived by her three siblings and their spouses: Mary Ellen and John Williams of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Evelyn Mott of Tampa Florida, and James and Martha Schmidt of Palo Alto, California; her six children and their spouses: Margaret (Peggie) Feldstein of Santa Barbara, Vincent Miller of Berkeley California, Stephen and
Bennie Miller of Sun City West Arizona, Randall and Barbara Miller of Lompoc California, Elizabeth and Bruce Aafedt of Tuscon Arizona, and Christopher and Michelle Miller of San Mateo, California; and by her four grandchildren: Emma Miller, Kate Miller, Aaron Feldstein, and Hannah Feldstein. Joanne’s children wish to thank all those who have helped their mother during her last years. They especially want to mention her principal caregivers: Emma Mae Norte, Leanne Gil, Marina Quintana, and Ofelia Szell. At her request, Joanne’s remains will be cremated and scattered at sea. A public memorial service will take place at Shoreline Park in Santa Barbara.
Julia Rieber
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Julia Mary Rieber, , died in Santa Barbara, CA, on Friday, September , from lung cancer. Born March , , she was the th of children born to Anthony and Julia (Mesker) Rieber in St. Louis, MO. Julia loved to play piano and was the occasional organist for catholic churches in St. Louis and Chicago. Julia’s talent, as a good typist and excellent short-hand, led her to a career as Executive Secretary, most recently to the Vice Chancellor of UC-San Diego. Julia married in to Walter B. Muckerman, also of St. Louis. They moved to South Bend, IN, and then to Winnetka, IL, where they raised daughters. When Julia was , she moved from downtown Chicago to La Jolla, and then in retired to Santa Barbara. Julia loved working in her garden, going to the ocean, and painting beautifully with watercolors and acrylic. Julia made a difference in the world, was a dreamer, and lived life with enthusiasm. She loved her friends and sharing life, spirit and years of sobriety. Julia leaves behind her daughters Catherine Sendra (Santa Barbara, CA), Celia Bullock (Northbrook, IL), and Clare Relihan (Erie, CO) and grandchildren. Her spirit will be honored at her favorite beaches, Henry’s and Butterfly.
Katherine “K.G.” Ann Grgich // – //
IN LOVING MEMORY GEORGE, SUSAN, AMY, & JENNIFER
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THE INDEPENDENT
september 25, 2014