obituaries
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Nick; son Mark Ehlen of Albuquerque and his children Forrest and Madison; and daughter Alison Galindo and her children Nico and Kenny. He is also survived by Jean’s family: Martin (Jennifer) Clarke and new baby Kaia, Teresa (Jeff) Polito and their children Ryan, Rachel, Lauren and Nicole. We will always think of Peter whenever we enjoy chocolate, train rides or family barbeques. He was happiest surrounded by gatherings of friends, family, laughter and conversation. Peter has many friends and associates who will miss him and remember what a kind, fair, positive friend and role model he was to all. A Celebration of Peter’s life will be announced at a later date. We would like to thank all his caregivers who were so gracious and loving, especially the staff at Villa Alamar for helping Peter (“Mr. Pedro”) this past year.
Dolores (Lori) Ritchie 1935-2015
Dolores (Lori) Ritchie died Tuesday at her home in Goleta. She was the last of four children born to Lloyd and Marie (Ovens) Schellhorn, and grew to early adulthood in Davenport, Iowa. After graduating in 1953 from Davenport High School, she married Robert Ritchie; they settled in Santa Barbara, where they raised two of three children to adulthood before divorcing in 1975. She joined the UCSB Library sta staff ff in 1961, retiring in 2000. She then worked another 7 years as a classroom assistant at McKinley School before the first of several illnesses drove her into full retirement. Her life was marked by her passion for the arts and an appreciation for good food and wine—which she shared with family and friends alike. She embraced diversity and was a good friend to so many. Lori was preceded in death by her son, Robbie, and is survived by her sister Betty of Moline, IL; her daughter Laurie of Goleta; her son James (Leane) of San Carlos, CA; grandchildren Amy, Lisa, Brooke, Ashley-Grace, Ashley-Mae and Bradley; and great-grandchildren Trenton, Genevieve, and Ella. She will be missed by all. 18
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Bernward Thorsch 04/27/20-10/11/15
Bernward Thorsch (Berny) was born in Dresden Germany on 27 April 1920, and he passed away on 11 October 2015, in Santa Barbara. His father Benno Thorsch (deceased) owned Kamera Werkstatten, a company that produced innovative cameras and photographic equipment. The Thorsch family left Germany in 1938 because of their Jewish ancestry. Soon after arriving in the United States, Berny was drafted. After three rounds of boot camp and teaching German to the troops going to Europe, the Air Force discovered Berny’s mechanical expertise and photographic skills. Berny developed and designed air-reconnaissance equipment, which was tested and perfected on B-17 bombers during his deployment in Panama City, Panama. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1946, Berny returned to the United States where he first worked at a photographic business in Denver, Colorado. In 1946, Berny and his wife, Doris Rhynard Thorsch (married 1945) and young son Ronald moved to California to work with his father, Benno Thorsch, at Studio City Camera Exchange on Ventura Boulevard. During 62 years as a business owner, Berny was active in the Studio City Chamber of Commerce and he was a 50-year member of the Studio City Rotary Club. His 50-year perfect-attendance pin was one of his most treasured possessions. Berny was a mountain climber, glider pilot, sailor, bicyclist, photographer and adventurer extraordinaire. Joining the Sierra Club in 1953, Berny loved the summer backpacking trips in the Sierras and throughout the western United States. Berny purchased one of the first Kelty backpacks when Mr. Kelty was selling them out of his garage. The aircraft-aluminum framed pack was the only one Berny used on all of his adventures. Berny moved to Santa Barbara to be close to his daughter Jennifer in 2008 after the death of his wife, Doris. His failing eyesight did not deter his desire for adventure and love of photography. Soon after arriving, Berny joined the Braille Institute of Santa Barbara, which became a very important part of his life. The stimulating classes, the dedicated teachers, and the enduring friendships he made enhanced his life beyond measure. In 2010, at the age of 90, Berny and his family traveled to his place of birth in Dresden, Germany, and to Sankt Gallen, Switzerland, where he attended the Institute auf dem Rosenberg from 1934-37. While in Dresden, the family visited the Technische Sammlungen, a museum dedicated to local technology and photography. The Director
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and Curator of Photography pro proposed hosting an exhibition about the Thorsch camera factory in Dresden. In September 2011, the exhibition entitled “The Picture You Will Get opened. The exhibition and warm welcome the family received in Dresden was one of the most memorable and important life events for Berny. Berny’s passion for photography took him all over the world from Africa to Tibet. Berny continued to take photographs (not pictures) with a Canon 35 mm film camera (no digital camera for Berny), even when his eyesight was nearly gone. Berny’s photographs demonstrate his unique sense of composition and ability to capture the moment when the light is perfect. In 2012, an exhibition of his work,“Insight: The Blind Photographer” was held at the Braille Institute. Berny is survived by his daughter Jennifer Thorsch (Charles Kaska) and their son Benjamin (Cynthia); his two granddaughters from his son Ronald Thorsch (deceased), Brooke Yamamura (Brian) and Carrie Thorsch; and greatgrandchildren Dylan, Tyler, Presley, Autumn and Ashland. The family wishes to thank the nurses and doctors at Cottage Hospital for their excellent care. Dr. Kyle Lemon dedicated his recent bicycle ride supporting the Arthritis Foundation California Coast Classic to Berny. We also thank Serenity House for exceptional care and compassion during his final days. Memorial donations may be made to Santa Barbara Braille Institute, 2031 De La Vina Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Gute Reise Papa, Ich liebe dich.
Carolyn Cranston Gelles 05/05/61-10/1/15
ing a hardball as well as any of her teammates. She combined her athletic ability with a bold spirit and involved herself in skiing, river rafting, hiking, backpacking, and sky diving. She loved travel and was always up for the next adventure. She lived in Australia for a year and visited South America, China, and the Middle East, as well as made several trips through Europe. After graduating from Occidental College and later finishing graduate work at Antioch University in Santa Barbara, Carrie became a psychotherapist with a strong practice in the Santa Ynez Valley, and, over the last year, in Santa Barbara. Both as a therapist and as a caring friend to many, Carrie helped a multitude of people with their problems over the course of her life. She always had her dog by her side and was one of the early innovators of AnimalAssisted Therapy. She is survived by her mother, Carolyn Humphreys, father Harry P. Gelles, brothers Paul H. Gelles and Harrison H. Gelles, sister-in-law Iliana Gelles, and fi five nieces and nephews. There will be a celebration of Carrie’s life at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, at the Vineyard House, 3631 Sagunto Street, in Santa Ynez. Carrie adopted her last dog, Charlotte, from Old Yeller Ranch Rescue, a nonprofit fit that she strongly supported. fi If you wish to make a donation, please make it in Carrie’s name to OYRR, P.O. Box 372, Los Olivos, CA 93441.
Gust Rouhas
Gust Rouhas passed away peacefully at home October 20, 2015. He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Linda; daughters Emily Medal (Luis) and Alison Rouhas; brothers Mike, Andy (Janice), Dennis (Lois) and Nick (Dina Bleakney); and many nephews and nieces. If you wish to visit the family, please do so on Sunday, October 25, between 1-4pm at their home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Nature Conservancy and Roze Room Hospice of Ventura.
Tomi Lin Bortolazzo 01/16/62-10/13/15
Born in Phoenix, Arizona on May 5th, 1961, Carrie died in a single-vehicle accident on October 1st, 2015. She was 54 years old. Carrie will be remembered by all who knew her as a vivacious and adventurous person who loved connecting with people. Put her anywhere and she would quickly have fi five new friends. She also had a special place in her heart for animals. Growing up with cats, dogs, goats, and horses in Palos Verdes, California, Carrie would ride her pony, Sweet Pea, saying,“Hi, I’m Carrie” to everyone she met. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved telling stories. And she was a great listener, caring deeply for friends and family and always ready to do a good deed for strangers. Carrie was also an outstanding athlete. Barely standing fi five feet tall, she was the only girl at her high school on the boys’ varsity baseball team, throw-
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Tomi Lin (“Tomi”) Bortolazzo, 53, who was born and raised in Santa Barbara and practiced medicine and surgery for 21 years, died October 13. She died unexpectedly of natural causes at her family home in Mammoth Lakes, CA. She was the daughter of Thomas Bortolazzo of Santa Barbara and Ara McDavid Fancher Croce of El Granada, CA. At the time of her death, Tomi was Chief of Staff at Mammoth Hospital in Mammoth Lakes and a member of the medical staff at Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop. Before moving to
Mammoth, Tomi practiced for 11 years with the San Antonio Urology Medical Group in Upland. In 2002, she became the first woman and youngest person ever to serve as Chief of Staff at San Antonio Community Hospital. In addition to her career in medicine and surgery, Tomi was an instrument rated pilot and gifted athlete, and a particularly fine skier. It was her love of skiing, the mountains and the outdoors that led her to move with her husband and children to Mammoth Lakes in 2005. Besides skiing, she and her family enjoyed hiking, fishing, snowmobiling, waterskiing and motocross. Tomi was born on January 16, 1962, in Santa Barbara where she attended Cold Spring School, Marymount, and graduated in 1979 from Santa Barbara High School. She received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry and cell biology from UC San Diego in 1984, her medical degree from Chicago Medical School at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in 1988 and completed her residency in surgery and urology at Loma Linda University Medical Center. She was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was certified by the American Board of Urology. In addition to her parents, Tomi is survived by her husband Ron Malm; sons Randy and Russell; grandmother Joyce McDavid Douglas; stepfather Rich Croce; brother Aaron Bortolazzo; sister-in-law Yolon Bortolazzo and their children, Janelle, Patricia and Matthew and their families; sister Alessandra Bortolazzo; brother Keith Croce and sister Carolyn Cullins and their families; uncle and aunt Kenneth and Kathy Bortolazzo and their family; uncle Fred Rogers and his family; aunts Marcia McDavid, Marianne Daughty, Ehrin Abram and uncle Alex McDavid and their families; cousins Michelle Savoy and Ariana Barrett; and paternal relatives in Crespano del Grappa, Italy. Beyond her personal achievements, she was very proud of her family and their successes. Her son Randy, a former member of the Mammoth Ski Team, is a recent graduate of Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her son Russell was recently named to the United States Ski Team and will be participating in the Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, in February 2016. A celebration of Tomi’s life will be held on Sunday, October 25, at 2:00 p.m. at the Main Lodge of Mountainside Conference Center, 10001 Minaret Rd., Mammoth Lakes, 93546. Rev. Fred C. Plumer will lead the gathering. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mammoth Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 660, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (mammothhospital. com) or Mammoth Lakes Foundation, P.O. Box 1815, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (mammothlakesfoundation.org). All who knew Tomi recognized the purpose, clarity and decisiveness with which she filled her days. Friends, relatives and patients admired the cool calm and confidence with which she navigated the challenges of life. Time and again, seemingly oblivious to dif difficulties and hazards, she performed while we felt privileged to act as witnesses.