obituaries
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Alyssa Reginato
together. She is preceded in death by her husband Don, and daughter, Danielle Marie. She is survived by her children, Michele Plumridge (Adam), Peter (Christen), Kipp (Susie Gosnell), her grandson Alexander Harmer, sister, Yvonne Meyer, and Leo Robidoux. The family wishes to thank our dearest Sey Kinsell for his lifetime of support, Leo Robidoux for his unfailing love and care, and the Santa Barbara Visiting Nurses. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Visiting Nurses.
07/06/74-02/10/17
Robin Selby Gauss 02/28/47-02/17/17 Celebration of Life for our dear friend Alyssa Reginato Saturday, March 11 Please arrive by 2:30 at Elings Park, the Singleton Pavilion. Bring a blanket or folding chair, and any photos that the family may keep.
ing and Paragliding Association, and was honored to be elected Captain of the Santa Barbara Sherriff Aerosquadron in January, 2017. Robin leaves behind his sons and their families, the love of his life, Nancy Callahan, and his dog, Bandit. He was a talented, honorable, and humble man that loved the Lord. He impacted the lives of many at home and abroad. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m., Saturday, May 4th at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara. There will be a celebration of his life following. A group Facebook Page has been created for Robin S. Gauss. Please post photos, stories and share his “Robinisms”! In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Terra Marine or Wilde Education Service.
Stephen (Steve) Metsch 04/12/44-02/12/17
Andrée Marie Harmer
Andrée Marie Harmer died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, February 21. She was born in San Francisco to John Cunningham and Suzanne Gamache Cunningham, a French war bride. She excelled in scholastics at St. Agnes and had a wonderful childhood in the City with her three siblings. At the start of the Second World War she became involved with the booking of transport for the troops and, in later life, enjoyed her role as a travel agent extraordinaire at Elmes Travel, working with her old friend from San Francisco, Marge Elmes. At the end of the War, she met her future husband, Don Harmer, a Santa Barbara boy, who was managing the Santa Barbara Airport, when she flew down to visit some friends. That was it! Don and Andrée went on to have four children and enjoyed a beautiful life in Santa Barbara. They built a Cliff May redwood house in Mission Canyon that they soon outgrew with their growing family. They moved to Montecito where they lived in the same house for over fifty years. She and Don travelled extensively, everything from camping in Baja California... reluctant as she was but, as ever, a good sport...to bareboat chartering in the Virgin Islands, to just about every exotic country, and anywhere an airplane or ship would take them. Andrée had a flair for cooking and entertaining, and made sure she and her family were always fed well, dressed well, and her home stylish and comfortable. She was a fabulous seamstress and made many a party dress for herself and her daughters, making a point to always have them perfectly turned out. She and Don had a full and happy life and many dear friends. Miramar Beach was a very special place for the family over the years, the epicenter of fun and family life. Don died in 1994. Some years later, Andrée married Leo Robidoux. They enjoyed many travels and good times 18
THE INDEPENDENT
Robin was born in Moscow, Idaho. When Robin was 4 years old, his father was killed in a logging accident. His mother, Leah, packed the family up and drove west. After driving up and down the entire coast of California, she chose Santa Barbara as their home. She knew a few ladies here from her professional dancing days and they helped the young family get settled. Robin attended Hope Elementary, La Colina Junior High and San Marcos High School – graduating in the class of 1964. He attended Cal Poly for a short time but the surf beckoned. He was then drafted into the US Army and proudly served his country in Korea. When he returned he was admitted to the first class of the Marine Technology Program at Santa Barbara City College, graduating in 1970. He completed his education at Florida Atlantic University and received his degree in Ocean Engineering. In 1995 he earned his PE in Mechanical Engineering. He spent his entire career in the dive and maritime industry as a diver and ocean engineer, a submariner – operating small research subs, and doing whatever was needed of him on underwater projects around the world. (Polar Artic Research, MARTEC, Underwater Technology Services, Oceaneering, Western Space and Marine, Maripro, L-3 Communications, Sound and Sea Technologies) In 1975 Robin bought a piece of property one mile up a dirt road in the foothills of Santa Barbara. He called it La Cumbre Canyon Ranch. He made it his home and a place where everyone was welcome! Robin has two incredible sons, Aaron Valdis Gauss and Skylar Luke Gauss. Robin was very proud of his boys as they went to college and each embarked on their life journeys. Aaron Valdis made his home in Taiwan and Skylar Luke in Pasadena. He loved their wives, Na and Megan, and was very proud to be a “Grandpa Lobo” to Arron’s children, Polaris and Aurora, and “Grandpa Robin” to Skylar’s children, Amelia Rose and Luke Manning. Robin loved diving, flying airplanes, surfing, target shooting, and after a hard day’s work- a nice cold Budweiser! He volunteered for a number of local organizations, including SBCC Marine Technology Advisory Council, Aeromedicos, Terra Marine, Santa Cruz Island Foundation, Old Spanish Days, Santa Barbara Hanglid-
MarcH 2, 2017
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The youngest of three children, Steve was born on April 12, 1944 in the Bronx, New York, to Fred and Lilly Metsch. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sharon Metsch, his brother Burton Metsch and sister Sheila Pereira. Steve spent most of his childhood in the Bronx and attended the Bronx High School of Science and CCNY. During the height of the Vietnam War, Steve received his architectural degree. Instead of enlisting, he chose to join the Peace Corps and was appointed the official architect of the country of Belize. After serving in the Peace Corps, Steve returned to New York City where he became an established architect until he moved to Santa Barbara in 1973. Steve distinguished himself in the Santa Barbara architectural community, beginning with his 34 year partnership at the firm, then known as Grant Pedersen Phillips Architects. He started as an office assistant and was elevated to partner in short order, at which time the firm became known as Phillips, Metsch, Sweeney and Moore, (PMSM). He retired as a senior principal in the firm in 2007. During his career, Steve contributed to major architectural projects in Santa Barbara and around the state of California. His expertise was in all aspects of construction. There wasn’t a code that he couldn’t quote. He directed numerous projects for PMSM, notably the drive through Santa Barbara Savings Bank on Anacapa Street (now Union Bank), and the renovation of Saint Francis Hospital (now the site of Cottage Hospital's employee housing). He also worked on several school and university projects at UCSB as well as SBCC. One of his personally most rewarding projects was planning and supervising many renovations at Mission Terrace. He also laid much of the groundwork for the construction of Hann Hall at the Music Academy of the West. Before his retirement he freely offered his expertise to the budding non-profit Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP) by designing and overseeing the buildout of their present cat shelter which is located on the grounds of County Ani-
mal Services in Goleta. Steve considered his most challenging and rewarding project to have served as the Architect of Record for the muchacclaimed renovation of the Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara's premier performing arts venue. After his retirement from PMSM, Steve served on the board of Santa Barbara's professional theater company, Ensemble Theatre. In that role, he was instrumental in the design and development of Ensemble's new home, the renovated New Vic Theater in downtown Santa Barbara. Always involved in Santa Barbara's professional and community life, Steve served stints as president of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as member of the County of Santa Barbara Architectural Review Board, and as a member of other civic and environmental organizations. In retirement Steve enjoyed woodworking in his home shop, where he planned and carried out various renovations and enhancements to his and Sharon's home. After a two-year battle with multiple myeloma, Steve quickly passed away during a sudden relapse. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Steve's name to any local nonprofit working toward the protection of our fragile and challenged environment. A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday March 26, 2017. Friends of Steve interested in attending should contact Sharon Metsch at sharonasap@cox.net.
Shirley Mae Kramer 10/08/34-02/22/17
Shirley Mae Kramer, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, February 22, 2017. Shirley was born in Ventura, CA and moved to Santa Barbara as a young girl. She was the youngest of three daughters born to George W. Betts and Violet M. Merrikin. Shirley attended Harding Elementary, La Cumbre Junior High, and Santa Barbara High School where she was a Varsity Cheerleader. In 1952, she married her high school sweetheart Robert W. Kramer. Together they raised three children: Doug, Cathy, and Don. Bob and Shirley were married for 35 years until the passing of Bob in April of 1987. Bob and Shirley were an amazing couple truly devoted and loving to each other throughout their marriage. Shirley loved children! She was a beloved and dedicated instructional aide and playground supervisor at La Patera Elementary School in the Goleta Union School District for over 40 years. Shirley worked at La Patera until the age of 80! One of Shirley’s favorite things to look forward to each year was the family trip to Lake Tahoe, CA and staying at the Lazy S Lodge. She always cried when she left Tahoe each year. Shirley is survived by her loving sister and friend, Joyce Mooberry who was always there to support her and share a laugh throughout her life. Her children:
Doug Kramer of Oceanside, CA; Cathy Stansbury of Bakersfield, CA; and Don Kramer of Santa Barbara. Her six grandchildren: Kyle Kramer, Holly Kramer, Stacy Stansbury, Stephanie Stansbury, Grant Kramer, and Christine Kramer. Shirley also had one great granddaughter, Jayden Wilson Kramer. A private family celebration of her life and memorial is being planned. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara.
Elizabeth Caldwell Hastings 01/04/1917-02/18/2017
Elizabeth Caldwell Hastings MD (Betsy), an early female in medicine, passed away the 18th of February, 2017 at age 100 surrounded by friends at Vista del Monte, Santa Barbara. Her strong stable sense of self allowed her to offer unconditional love and support to her family and to allow others to feel special and worthy of her time and attention. A woman of grace and wisdom, she was born Jan 4, 1917 in Spencer, NY to the Reverend Albert Oscar Caldwell and wife Minnie Grace. Betsy spent her early years in Waverly, NY; graduated high school from Abbot in MA; Mt. Holyoke College in 1938; and obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1943, as one of the few women to attend medical school in that era. At Columbia she met her future husband, Dr. T. Newlin Hastings, to whom she was married by her father in his Titusville Presbyterian Church Jan 4, 1944. During WWII, while separated from Newlin by his deployment as a Field Surgeon in 8th Armored Division in Europe, she worked tirelessly at Bellevue Hospital in New York, one day racing up the Empire State Building to triage patients injured when a B-25 bomber accidentally crashed into the building. While Newlin practiced as a General Surgeon at USC/Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles Betsy dedicated herself to full time practice as a Pediatric physician working in LA County clinics, overseeing the Los Angeles Red Cross blood bank and raising 4 children as a model mother, chef, seamstress, and knitter. No matter what the challenge she would take it on, including river trips, horse trips into the High Sierra Nevada and sharing times with family and friends at the Yosemite Mountain Ranch. With retirement she and Newlin moved from San Marino to Montecito, CA in 1988. She was a voracious reader with interests in other cultures that led to extensive travels with Newlin around the world until he passed away in 2008. Her confident attitude kept her living independently and actively engaged in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and active in the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society. Above all she is loved and revered for non-judgmental support and encouragement of others to live their lives according to their own hearts and drives. Betsy is survived by her 4 children
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