Rest in Peace

On a personal note, I mark the passing of Gene Sinser, a former director of the Montecito Fire District, at the age of 86.

Born and educated in Germany, coming to the U.S. in 1953, Gene and his wife, Patty DeDominic, moved to Solvang two years ago after nearly two decades in our rarefied enclave, where I was a frequent visitor for dinner and charity parties.

Gene, who studied at UCLA and USC before opening an art gallery in Los Angeles, from which he retired in 2000. He was a board member of the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Arts Fund.

An avid tennis player, cook, traveler, and classical music fan, he was most recently a board member of the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature in Los Olivos.

A gentle, kind and affable soul who will be much missed.

Sightings: Oscar winner Kevin Costner noshing at Lucky’s with his wife, Christine… Christopher Lloyd checking out the Bacara… Rob Lowe at The Monarch