Tag archives: obituaries

Karen Louise Morley: April 25, 1953 – December 13, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   January 16, 2024

Karen Louise Morley, of Santa Barbara, went to be with the Lord on December 13, 2023. In recent years, she had fought a long and often painful battle with ocular melanoma, but in her last weeks and days in this world she was peacefully surrounded by family and friends in the light and comfort of […]

Colleen Kirst: September 14, 1924 – December 21, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   January 16, 2024

Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Colleen Kirst passed peacefully into heaven on December 21, 2023, at the age of 99. A brilliant, beautiful woman inside and out, Colleen devoted her life to God, family, country, and community. Colleen’s life history is a classic American story of faith and hard work resulting in success, but she […]

Maryan Strathy Schall: September 10, 1930 – January 2, 2024
By Montecito Journal   |   January 16, 2024

“Who can turn the world on with her smile…?” Those of us of a certain age hear those lyrics and immediately think of the theme song to The Mary Tyler Moore Show. We propose those words could fit just as nicely as the theme to the life of Maryan Strathy Schall, who turned the world […]

Frank Davis Umanzio: September 10, 1934 – December 7, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   December 19, 2023

Frank Davis Umanzio was born on September 10, 1934, in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Pasquale and Felicia Umanzio, and passed from this life on December 7, 2023, at age 89. Frank and his beautiful wife Jean met in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1956 and married in 1957, living happily together for 66 years.  In 1974, Frank […]

Keith Roger Austin: May 11, 1944 – September 22, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   December 19, 2023

Keith Roger Austin, beloved father and grandfather, entrepreneur, traveler, lover of life, and rock ‘n’ roller, passed away on September 22, 2023, at the age of 79, after a short battle with cancer. Keith, still working in his studio, listening to vinyl records and was on air with his radio show The Rock Files, doing […]

Donnie Carolan: May 28, 1957 – October 18, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   November 28, 2023

Donnie Carolan, 66, of Santa Barbara, California, passed away on October 18, 2023. He was born on May 28, 1957, in Morristown, New Jersey. Donnie was a passionate individual who had a deep love for music. He was actively involved in various choirs such as the Master Chorale and the Trinity Episcopal Church Choir. Donnie’s […]

Reuben Walker Eliyahu Smith: May 17, 1987 – November 6, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   November 28, 2023

As we bid farewell to a soul who embraced life with an extraordinary fervor, we mourn the passing of Reuben Walker Eliyahu Smith. His departure leaves an indelible void, and we reflect on the poignant words from one of his own poems, asking the profound question: “Did you love this world of ours the best […]

Don Bushnell: January 7, 1927 – June 19, 2023
By Tim Buckley   |   August 15, 2023

Don Bushnell was born January 7, 1927, as an identical twin. Both he and his twin brother, David, were radio Quiz Kids, and both were awarded scholarships to the University of Chicago at age 16. Their adult lives followed very similar educational and professional paths. Don was devoted to social issues his entire life, starting […]

Nicholas Proctor Palonen: April 10, 1981 – May 31, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   July 18, 2023

Nicholas Proctor Palonen, beloved son, brother, husband, and father, was welcomed into the world by his parents, Marjorie and Craig Palonen, on April 10, 1981, in Santa Barbara, California. From that day forward, he became an indispensable part of a loving family, joining his older brother, Tye, on countless childhood adventures — from explorations of […]

Byron Lyle Fairbrother : September 22, 1958 – March 17, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   July 4, 2023

Byron Lyle Fairbrother was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to Edwin Henry Fairbrother and Randi Tangvall Fairbrother. He had a heart attack while sailing in San Diego. Their team won last year’s race. He learned to sail as a youngster at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. At least he passed doing something he loved. […]

Michael Oliver Brayton Cherry: June 20, 1937 – March 29, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   June 20, 2023

Michael Cherry (85) died peacefully in his home in Palm Desert, California on the morning of March 29th, with loved ones at his side.  Michael was born in Fall River, Massachusetts to Nelson and Constance Cherry (Brayton), and was raised in Bristol, Rhode Island. Michael graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut (’55). He […]

Benjamin Fay Brode: 1937 – 2023
By Ann Brode   |   June 6, 2023

Ben Brode had logged a lifetime of exciting adventures out in the world by the time I met him. But when destiny opened the door, he was ready for one more – a 44-year journey of the heart. As he told his kids recently, “when I got together with your mother, it felt like setting […]

Robert Louis Veloz: January 31, 1934 – April 13, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   May 9, 2023

Bob Veloz passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 13, 2023, with his beloved family by his side.  Bob was born on January 31, 1934, in New York City to Louis and Adelaide Veloz. Three years later, the family welcomed identical twin boys who brought so much joy to the family. When Bob was […]

Bobbie Rosenblatt: December 14, 1935 – March 31, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   April 25, 2023

Bobbie Rosenblatt passed away peacefully at home in Santa Barbara being held by the love of her life. She was a wonderful woman full of love and positive energy. Music was a huge part of her life, and she continued going to rock concerts into her 80s. She loved the arts and traveling around the […]

Julie Nadel
By Montecito Journal   |   April 25, 2023

Local philanthropist and bridge player Julie Nadel, 77, passed away on March 29th at her home in Santa Barbara. A private service was held on April 4th. When describing Julie’s bridge style, Dutch champion Joris van Lankveld said, “One of Julie’s strengths was that she had no fear to bid, and she put her opponents […]

Carolyn Virginia Wyatt: February 6, 1936 – March 5, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   April 11, 2023

Carolyn Virginia Wyatt passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, in Santa Barbara on March 5, 2023. A loving devoted wife and adoring mother and grandmother, she was born in Hollywood, CA on February 6, 1936. She is survived by her husband Philip Wyatt, her children Scott, Jon, and Lori, and her grandchildren, and stepchildren. She […]

Jill Jacobsen-Parish: June 8, 1951 – March 3, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   March 21, 2023

Elizabeth Jill Jacobsen-Parish of Bellingham, Wash., passed away at the age of 71 on March 3, 2023, after a short battle with pneumonia. Her husband of 26 years, John Parish, was by her side. Jill was born on June 8, 1951, in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada. Moving to Vancouver, B.C., Jill received her BA in […]

Elizabeth Webb Woodworth: August 17, 1921 – February 20, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   March 14, 2023

Elizabeth (Betty) Webb Woodworth died of natural causes on Feb. 20, 2023, in Santa Barbara, Calif. She was born on Aug. 17, 1921, in Hamden, Conn., to Anne Pinkney Webb and Paul Webb. Betty was a people person who loved life, no matter the moment or the environment. Betty’s early years were spent in Spring […]

Roger Arlen Phillips: 1934 – 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   February 28, 2023

Roger Arlen Phillips, 88, beloved and devoted husband, father, and friend, passed away quietly surrounded by love in his home in Montecito on Jan. 19, 2023. Roger was born in 1934 to Paul Edward and Lela Belle Phillips of Bakersfield, Calif. When he was a young boy, his family vacationed in Santa Barbara, where he […]

Hope Sterling Kelly February 2, 1929 – January 8, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   February 21, 2023

Hope Sterling Kelly passed away peacefully in Santa Barbara on January 8, 2023. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to anyone she had ever met.  Hope was born on Groundhog’s Day, February 2, 1929. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended University Elementary School, University High School, UCLA for two […]