In Honor of a Life Well Spent: Victoria C. Hazard: July 8, 1946 – December 28, 2025

At 4:25 am on December 28, 2025, our beloved Vicki peacefully took her last breath. As her family surrounded her, the bluetooth speaker beside her bed inexplicably and surreally played a piano rendition of Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” We believe, in her divine wisdom, she “chose” this song as her final message of the unending love she held for all her friends and family. In this moment, our world has lost a very special person.

Vicki was both witty and wise. She possessed a great sense of humor, a quick mind, steadfast integrity and a wonderfully generous heart. She was a lifetime student of building successful relationships and truly embodied the rare quality of listening before responding. She earned the recognition of her friends, family and community as a leader, innovator and consensus builder. 

Vicki’s Role in Serving Others and Community Engagement

Victoria taught us that volunteerism is the magical ingredient that defines a good life – that putting the needs of others who are less fortunate than ourselves brings us the only true enrichment in life and fulfillment of our dreams. Philanthropy meant much more to her than just giving money. It is the thoughtful use of one’s resources – time, influence, and expertise – to strengthen our communities, support shared values, solve problems, and build a legacy of caring and commitment. 

Vicki’s legacy of volunteerism included 20 years as Sansum Clinic Board Chair, board member, and member of the Executive Committee, including the Sutter Health Community Advisory Board following the merger of Sutter Health and Samsun Clinic. She also served as a board member for Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, Casa Dorinda/Montecito Retirement Association, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, and Santa Barbara Foundation. Vicki was a board member and Executive Committee member for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, Foundation for Santa Barbara City College, and Montecito Community Foundation Board of Trustees. In addition, she served as a multi-term board member and Finance Committee member for Birnam Wood Club and Birnam Wood Homeowners Association. As a young, former member of Girl Scouts, she devoted time as a board member on the Executive Committee of Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital (Washington, D.C.), Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus Pine Council, and Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast. It came as no surprise to our community that Vicki was chosen in 2016 by the Santa Barbara Foundation as “Woman of the Year.”

Victoria’s Role as a Soulmate to her Husband, Bob

Bob Hazard and Vicki Cranor were married 46 years ago on January 2, 1980. Their friendship began during seven years of working together at Best Western Hotels International, where Bob served as CEO and Vicki as Senior Vice-President of Strategic Planning. 

Bob’s greatest accomplishment in life was to have had the good fortune to have married Vicki. He wrote of her: “Her advice is impeccable. Her heart is as big for everyone else as it is for me. She is the editor of my writings, the proofreader of my life, and the lighthouse keeper of my soul. She makes me laugh at myself and show greater sensitivity to others, in order to live up to her expectations. She is a jewel to be shared, a joy to be with, and living proof that the right footpath lies in staying humble while trying to inspire the best in everyone else.”

Bob added, “There is no question that I am a far better person because of her. She had to train me every day, an exhausting experience. She is living proof that ‘behind every good man is a woman rolling her eyes.’ Her best advice was: ‘Look people in the eye, eat your broccoli, always tell the truth, stop complaining, and live to meet the needs of others.’

“Despite her busy board schedule, she and I had a commitment to have lunch together every day, often with visiting friends, family, and their children who were staying at our Bonnymede Beach house. They came to the Beach House for one of Vicki’s famous life planning sessions. With 46 years of daily lunches, times the two of us, plus an average of four visitors staying in the Beach House for fun, frivolity, and Life Planning, the meal count rose to over 100,000 meals, enough lunches for every person in Santa Barbara.

“A game we played with Beach House guests was to have each define their definitions of the words ‘love’ and ‘marriage’ in 15 words or less. Try it – it’s not easy. The best we could come up with was, ‘Love is caring more about someone else than you care about yourself.’” 

For ‘Marriage,’ Bob’s definition of Marriage is finding someone who loves you, is blind to your blemishes and tells the world about your virtues. “Vicki and I were good friends before we fell in love. There was trust. We could talk to each other about anything. The ‘I Do’s’ are the easy part. Marriage is a relationship where one person is always right, and the other person is the husband.”

Bob describes his wife “as a person whose positive outlook was contagious. Her talents and abilities were awesome. Her ability to bring people together was extraordinary. She was highly thought-of and much-loved.” One of her toughest challenges was to keep her husband in shape, emotionally and physically, assuming “a pear” is considered to be a great shape.

Victoria, a meticulous wordsmith, and the daughter of an English teacher, was once asked to explain the difference between the words “complete” and “finished.” Most people would argue there is none. She differed, noting, “When you marry the right woman you are complete; when you marry the wrong one you are finished. And when the right woman catches you with the wrong woman, you are completely finished.”

Vicki’s Life Story

Victoria C. Hazard was born on July 8, 1946, in Providence, RI. Her parents were Dr. John R. Cranor, a Naval Flight Surgeon, and Mary M. Cranor, a public health nurse. Victoria grew up in Walla Walla, WA, where her father was Chief of Surgery at the Walla Walla Hospital. 

In high school, Vicki wanted to be a social worker to change the world. She credits her parents for setting high expectations, encouraging her to hold steadfastly to her values and never let them be compromised. She learned to dream big dreams and value hard work in a shared community. 

She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology/psychology at Washington State University and her master’s degree in finance and business at American University in Washington, D.C. She earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation enabling her to offer broader services like auditing, tax planning, and financial consulting. 

Since moving to Montecito in 2003, Vicki began each day at 5:15 am with an early morning walk with her good friends, Julie McGovern, Janet Garufis, Sara Fargo, and Dru Hartley. At five miles a day, for 22-years, the lovely ladies logged twice the distance around the Earth! How many of you can make that claim? 

Vicki’s business career consisted of a senior executive position in an international hospitality company with responsibility for strategic planning, operations and administration, corporate communications, quality assurance, customer service and human resources. Additionally, she worked as a marketing and communications executive for a national healthcare company that owned and operated acute-care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities.

Vicki’s family includes her brother, John R. Cranor, Sr. (wife Lee); sister, Melissa Anne Cranor (deceased); niece, Rebecca Cranor Hurst; nephew, John R. Cranor, Jr.; nephew, Tyler R. Cranor (wife Anyssa), and five stepchildren, Alicia Rhoades, Letitia Hazard, Robert Hazard III (wife Susan), Thomas E. J. Hazard (deceased), Anne Hazard Boyle (husband Michael) and 14 grandchildren. 

Vicki has requested no formal funeral; she never wanted any fuss. But the family is planning a “Celebration of Her Beautiful Life.” After all, how can we not? The celebration will likely be in late March or early April at Birnam Wood Golf Club. No coats, no ties, no black dresses, no sadness. The details will be announced as soon as possible. 

Nelson Mandela summed up the essence of Vicki’s life: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”  

Vicki, on behalf of your legion of friends, family and associates, thank you for your life of love… and for just being you. You will never be forgotten. You will always be in our hearts.

Vicki’s Friends and Family

Here are just a few of the people who touched her life in a very special way

“A great many people walk in and out of our lives. Real friends and family leave a footprint on our hearts. It always helps to have those we love beside us when we have to do the difficult things in life.” — Vicki Hazard

Vicki Hazard’s Foundation Family Speaks

Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don’t live in a world all of your own. — Albert Schweitzer

Sansum Clinic, Now Part of Sutter Health

Sansum Clinic is the largest nonprofit outpatient healthcare organization between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area. It officially became part of Sutter Health’s system in October 2023, creating an integrated network offering broad access to primary and specialty care, wellness programs, and advanced facilities for residents along California’s Central Coast.

This partnership combines Sansum’s local expertise with Sutter’s broader resources, providing a connected patient experience with more services, like urgent care, surgery centers, and extensive specialty departments. Together Sansum Clinic and Sutter Health serve more than three million patients. 

In a letter to his associates at the time of her passing, Vicki Hazard, a long-time Trustee and former Board Chair of Sansum Clinic, received a warm and gracious tribute from Dr. Kurt Ransohoff, Sansum/Sutter Health CEO and Chief Medical Officer:

Ransohoff wrote, “There will be few people who will have contributed as much of their time, wisdom and energy as a volunteer to Sansum Clinic. Vicki was so important that she was continuously re-elected Board Chair, as we navigated very challenging circumstances and discussions with many different potential partners over many years.

“If there were a clock to keep track of hours Vicki spent on Sansum Clinic, the clock would be in the many thousands of hours. I personally talked with Vicki about Clinic business many times on weekends and late in the evening or early in the morning. Once, we needed to meet with officials in Washington, D.C., and there was Vicki along for the journey. She would be willing to go to any meeting, even if it would be sure to be challenging, and everyone at the meeting would benefit from her attendance.

“Vicki did not seek recognition for her good work. But the work was so extensive and valuable that she won many awards and praise for her volunteerism and leadership, an example of which was being honored by the Santa Barbara Foundation in 2016 as Santa Barbara’s ‘Woman of the Year.’

“We will keep you posted if there is a public event to honor this exceptional friend of Sansum Clinic, and an exceptional person for the community and all who were lucky enough to know her.”

Earlier Dr. Ransohoff wrote: “Vicki had only been in Santa Barbara for less than a year when, in 2004, two of our board members, Tom Fly and Maryan Schall, suggested we speak to her about getting involved with the Clinic. We recognized the skills she had to offer right away and were wise enough to snap her up immediately, and three years later we asked her to be Chair of the Board of Trustees, a position she held until 2018 when Janet Garufis – Chairwoman and CEO of Montecito Bank & Trust, Vicki’s good friend, longtime associate and five-mile daily walking buddy – took the baton as Board Chair while Vicki retained her board seat.

Ransohoff continued: “Back in 2004 I recall talking to Vicki on the phone one evening, and saying, ‘Things seem pretty stable at the Clinic and the term will only be two years, so I don’t think it will be too much work.’ That turned out to be a spectacular misrepresentation. Instead of a period of stability, things started happening quickly. Obamacare brought the most significant change in the American healthcare system in the 50 years since the birth of Medicare in the 1960s. 

“Under Vicki’s leadership, Sansum merged with the Cancer Center, planned and built a new 60,000 square foot medical campus on Foothill Road, helped fund the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and helped implement a new electronic medical health record system, originally called ‘My Chart.’

“Board terms are generally for two years. Victoria served for 20-years as Sansum Board Chair, as a board member, as an Executive Committee member and a member of the Community Advisory Board, Sutter Health/Samsun Clinic.”

Ridley-Tree Cancer Center of Santa Barbara

Sansum Clinic and the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara joined together in 2012 to create the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara. The goal was to fund and build a new $52 million cancer center to realize a vision for enhancing oncology care on the Central Coast. 

In 2017, Philanthropist Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree provided the lead gift for a new facility and the name of the institution was changed to honor her support. Her gift, alongside a community partnership of donors, patients and businesses, allowed a new cancer center to be constructed at 540 W. Pueblo Street, within the heart of Santa Barbara’s medical village. The new cancer center allowed for the centralization of all outpatient cancer care under one roof, creating a seamless experience for patients. The result was one of the finest regional cancer centers in the country, with facilities, staff and technology on par with large academic centers of excellence.

Campaign chair Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree and campaign cabinet members Dan Gainey, Ed and Sue Birch, Maryan Schall, and Peter MacDougall, worked with supporters and fundraisers, like Vicki Hazard, to raise more than $48 million for the new Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara 

Victoria Hazard served on the Cancer Foundation Board for 11 ½ years from 2012 to 2023. “Vicki’s service on the board of the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara helped to ensure that our community’s patients have access to the highest quality health-care services, cancer care and wellness support – regardless of their ability,” said Ransohoff. “Victoria is known for her giving heart and her tireless commitment to strengthening the organizations she serves.” 

Casa Dorinda LifeCare Retirement Community

Casa Dorinda was originally a grand estate built in 1919 from the Castor Oil fortune. Mrs. Anna Dorinda Blaksley Bliss commissioned architect Carleton Winslow to design the estate to serve as the social heart of the greater Montecito community. Over the years, its role evolved from a rest and recuperation center during World War II to an all-girls’ school in the mid-1940s and 1950s. 

In 1975, Casa Dorinda welcomed its first residents as the retirement community it remains today. Walking through the 48-acre campus and its surrounding gardens, visitors are transported not to another era, but to a place of enduring beauty and tranquility, rich in history and spirit.

In 2017, Casa Dorinda named Victoria C. Hazard to the Board of Directors of its Montecito Retirement Association because of her leadership experience in the hospitality, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors.

Brian McCague, executive director/CEO, explained his mission as, “The pursuit of excellence in the care and quality of its services, so that residents may continue to live their lives with dignity and security as independently and fully as they are able.” 

Brian added: “As the CEO of Casa Dorinda, I had the extreme pleasure of working with Vicki for many years when she served on our Board of Directors. Vicki was supportive of our mission, understood her responsibility to Casa, and was always receptive and caring to the needs of our residents.

“I quickly learned of her generosity of time to many organizations in greater Santa Barbara, but she always found time to be responsive to our Casa Dorinda mission. The last time I saw Vicki was at the Alzheimer’s Walk at Chase Palm Park in mid-November. Despite the challenges she was battling, there she was supporting a worthy cause as she always did.”

Victoria loved her role in working with Lisa Thomas, Director of Philanthropy, and the whole Casa Dorinda team on campus improvement programs, legacy of giving, and healthcare improvement projects.

Victoria responded to the honor of being invited to a Board seat: “I am deeply committed to the mission and vision of Casa Dorinda and am honored to have the opportunity to play a crucial role in shaping its future by serving on the board.” After six years of service on the board, and chair of the finance committee and philanthropy committee, she was named Board President before having to step down for health reasons.

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC)

More than 50% of the people in our Santa Barbara community live below the poverty line and often lack access to high-quality healthcare. The Neighborhood Clinics treat the vulnerable population that can’t afford to pay and may not have insurance. 

Most of its patients are low-income, working class, and Latino. Without Medi-Cal, many would have no insurance. About 15% –  mostly those without legal documentation  – pay out of pocket, whatever and whenever they can.

SBNC is part of the safety net for the underserved. The SBNC clinic network provides a wide range of specialized care, including mental health, prenatal, pediatric, optical, preventative, chiropractic, podiatry, acupuncture, dental and behavioral healthcare. 

Medical facilities include the Eastside Neighborhood Clinic, the Eastside Dental Clinic, the Westside Neighborhood Clinic, the Bridge Clinic, the Goleta Neighborhood Clinic, the Goleta Neighborhood Dental Clinic, the Isla Vista Neighborhood Clinic, and two mobile medical and dental clinics to service Santa Barbara schoolchildren and low-income adults. A new Westside clinic, scheduled to open in 2026, will serve as a flagship facility, offering integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health services, making it the largest health safety net under one roof in Santa Barbara

Victoria began her service to the Neighborhood Clinics, originally working with Dr. Charles Fenzi, CEO and Chief Medical Officer Neighborhood Clinics, as he and his team transformed the struggling community clinics into the very successful, growing, and all-encompassing nonprofit organization. Fenzi joined SBNC as a family physician, he was then promoted to Chief Medical Officer in 2012 and to CEO in 2015. Fenzi retired in the summer of 2022. 

Victoria continued her work with the Neighborhood Clinics under the direction of Fenzi’s successor, Dr. Mahdi Ashrafian, MD, MBA, when he took over the reins of leadership as the Neighborhood Clinics’ new CEO in August 2022.

Because of inadequate government reimbursement rates to cover operating expenses, community philanthropy is needed to bridge the gap between revenues and expenses. A team of community fundraisers led by Jim Jackson and Janet Garufis, including Vicki Hazard and 10 other Capital Campaign Cabinet members, have pledged to raise $9 million per year to attract new healthcare professional and close the operating budget gap; raise $5 million per year to install and run the Epic OCHIN/My Chart electronic health records system, seamlessly compatible with Cottage Health and Sansum/Sutter Health; and $12 million per year in capital costs and annual operating costs to finish and run the new flagship Westside Clinic, to be opened in 2026.

Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF). Strategic Grantmaking. 

Every day, Santa Barbara County residents face affordability challenges from rising rents; higher food, gas and healthcare costs; lack of affordable childcare for working families; and higher healthcare costs. The county’s nonprofits are being stretched to limits in funding community services.

Since 1928, the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF), a community foundation for Santa Barbara County, has created meaningful change for the region through inclusive collaboration, philanthropic advising, strategic grantmaking and strengthening our regional nonprofits. The mission is to mobilize collective wisdom and philanthropic capital to build empathetic, inclusive, and resilient communities across the central coast. 

Even the most diligent donor finds it daunting to try to learn about each organization and vet their work. When you partner with the Santa Barbara Foundation, donors can be assured that we award grants through a rigorous process of research, due diligence, and evaluation through our Community Grant Opportunities program.

Recently, the Santa Barbara Foundation distributed over $27 million to more than 1,500 nonprofits in Santa Barbara County, through the generosity of its donors and the support of its donor-advisor fundholders. For years, Vicki served as an advisor to the Santa Barbara Foundation.

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

Victoria was touched by the stories of many of the teens seeking scholarships, and in recent years, the organization has made more of an effort to reach out to North County students. Victoria served for 13 years as a Board member and as an Executive Committee member of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, believes that local students need and deserve education beyond high school, and that every motivated student should have the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education. After careful review of the 2,500 applications and the more than 500 scholarship funds SFSB manages, they provide scholarships and financial aid advice to eligible students from Santa Barbara County for college, graduate, and vocational school. In addition, the Foundation’s database allows access to over 3.7 million scholarship opportunities totaling some $19 billion in financial aid.

On her appointment to the Board, Victoria Hazard said, “These are just magnificent kids who didn’t have all the things I had.” She was bothered by the rise in college expenses over the years, calling the cost “prohibitively expensive,” and said, “We need to find new ways to deal with that.” 

Victoria said she believes the people of Santa Barbara are committed to finding solutions, with a civic pride here unlike anything she has experienced in other communities. “I am really optimistic about Santa Barbara’s future because we do such aggressive work in the social-services sector,” she said. “I think we can do better, but we are doing yeoman’s work.”

Woman of the Year: 2016

In 2016, Victoria Hazard was named “Woman of the Year” by the Santa Barbara Foundation for her years of dedicated volunteer service to the Santa Barbara community. Persons-of-the-year are nominated by community members in recognition of extraordinary volunteer service that represents a meaningful commitment to the community, addresses a real community need, or enhances the quality of life. Nominees may also be acknowledged for exemplary acts of generosity, kindness, or innovation in the Santa Barbara area. 

The process to select the Person of the Year begins with open nominations. Anyone in the community can nominate an individual, couple or family. A committee made up of former recipients, with input from nonprofit leaders, review nominations and select the honoree.

On March 7, 2016, a local Santa Barbara publication wrote: 

Woman of the Year Vicki Hazard Privileged to Help Others Around Her.

Vicki Hazard received the 73rd annual Woman of the Year Award from the Santa Barbara Foundation, during a ceremony this week at the Coral Casino/Four Seasons Resort Biltmore Santa Barbara. This year’s Santa Barbara Foundation honoree is driven by her desire to give back to the community.

Hazard has dedicated more than three decades to leadership roles in volunteerism and public service, with the past 15 years devoted almost exclusively to nonprofit agencies in Santa Barbara, including Sansum Clinic, the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and more. 

“Vicki’s work as chair of the board of trustees of Sansum Clinic and her service on the board of the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara are helping to ensure that our community’s patients have access to the highest quality healthcare services, cancer care and wellness support – regardless of their ability to pay,” said Kurt Ransohoff, CEO and chief medical officer of Sansum Clinic. “She is known for her giving heart and her tireless commitment to strengthening the organizations she serves.” 

At the Santa Barbara Foundation Award ceremony for the 2016 Woman of the Year, Vicki noted she believes people of Santa Barbara are committed to finding solutions, with a civic pride here unlike anything she has experienced in other communities. “I am really optimistic about Santa Barbara’s future because we do such aggressive work in the social-services sector,” she said. “I think we can do better, but we are doing yeoman’s work.”

She is grateful to receive the Woman of the Year Award and said it’s tough to believe she’s the recipient after so many years of attending the event. Her closing comment was: “To me, it’s about celebrating volunteerism in the broadest sense. The winner could be almost any one of the thousand people in this ballroom.”

Montecito Community Foundation

The Montecito Community Foundation was established over 50 years ago (1966) by a group of citizens who believed its residents might wish to make tax deductible gifts to preserve and improve the Montecito community and its quality of life. 

Classic projects include the beloved Village 4th of July celebration and picnic; the installation, repair and maintenance of Montecito’s unique wooden road signs; site acquisition, development and ownership of the delightful “Corner Green” at E. Valley and San Ysidro roads; beautification of the Village triangle at Olive Mill and Hot Springs roads; and a community partnership with the “Bucket Brigade” to plan, install and maintain safe community walking paths.

Victoria served on the Board of Trustees for many years working with community leaders Steve Hicks, Ambia Clark, Hugh Boss, Ruth Green, and Chana Jackson to preserve the uniqueness, elegance, and safety of the Montecito community.

Girl Scouts of America Capital Campaigns

More than 50 million women in America have participated in Girl Scouting to help girls build their confidence to become leaders, reach their full potential, and give back to their communities. Victoria served as a Board member or Executive Committee member of the Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital (Washington, D.C.), the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus Pine Council, and the Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast.