Remembering Marilyn McMahon

To the Rockwood Woman’s Club for a Celebration of Life of the late Santa Barbara News-Press writer Marilyn McMahon, a former colleague and friend, who died in August aged 93, just two weeks before the historic daily, for which she’d written for half a century, declared bankruptcy.

Jerry Roberts, former editor of the newspaper, noted Marilyn had written more than 6,000 feature articles during her career there, totaling more than two and a half million words.

“She was the newsroom matriarch,” said Roberts. “All about the community. Stewardship was important to her. She loved her job and was a great resource for newsroom reporters. A conscientious and self-respecting wordsmith.”

Among those turning out for the two-hour memorial were her children Steve and Kate McMahon, two grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, Anne Towbes, Gerd Jordano, Melinda Burns, Ira Gottlieb, Susan Gulbransen, Nick Caruso, Karna Hughes, Tom Bolton, Fred and Nancy Golden, Barney Brantingham, Judy Hill, Hillary Hauser, Bill Macfadyen, and former Fire Chief Pat McElroy.