Tag archives: in memoriam

Clift Seybert Kinsell: July 25, 1923 – December 31, 2022
By Montecito Journal   |   January 17, 2023

Clift Seybert Kinsell was born in Oakland, California and moved to Santa Barbara at age three. With this move, commenced a long and fruitful life full of travel. His main love was for his family and service to others. Sey loved “all things Santa Barbara.” He first attended Roosevelt School, then La Cumbre Jr. High […]

Barbara Levenson: January 31, 1942 – December 29, 2022
By Montecito Journal   |   January 17, 2023

Barbara Levenson, 80, of Santa Barbara, sadly left us on December 29, 2022. Barbara was born on January 31, 1942, to Harry and Ruth Eisenberg in Los Angeles. She was raised in West Los Angeles and built a community of friends she cherished from her days at Fairfax and Beverly Hills High School. Always one […]

Jacqueline Rubinstein: July 25, 1958 – September 6, 2022
By Montecito Journal   |   October 25, 2022

Jacqueline Hiske Rubinstein passed away September 6th at the young age of 64. Jacqueline was born July 25th, 1958, in Singapore to Hiske and Jack Forsyth. Jacqueline was a citizen of the world; speaking five languages and growing up in areas including Suriname, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, New York, Montecito, and Los Angeles. She was a […]

In Passing: Richard Ray Easbey
By Margaret Easbey   |   August 23, 2022

Richard Ray Easbey was born in Helena, Montana to his parents Jim and Doris on April 19, 1945. There he shared his childhood with his late brother, Jeffrey. Richard moved to the Los Angeles area in the early ‘70s to attend the Light and Powerhouse – a bible college. Soon after he moved to Goleta, […]

John Joseph Macker
By Caitlin Macker   |   August 16, 2022

John Joseph Macker, a longtime Montecito resident, beloved father, and Emmy and Peabody award-winning executive producer, passed away on July 26, 2022, at the age of 78. Before moving to Montecito in 1994, John lived a vibrant, Hollywood lifestyle working in television. He orchestrated television shows garnering 14 Emmys and served as the creator and […]

Remembering Paul Wilt
By Scott Craig   |   July 19, 2022

Paul Wilt, Westmont professor emeritus of history, died June 23 at the age of 93. A memorial service will be held at Shoreline Community Church on Saturday, July 16, at 10 am. He is survived by his wife, Doris, and their four children: Tom, Marilyn (’74), Janet (’76), and Daniel (’84).  Paul taught mostly U.S. […]

William J. Jones
By Montecito Journal   |   July 19, 2022

William (Bill) Joseph Jones, a longtime resident of Montecito who enjoyed his family, fishing, and sailing, passed away peacefully in his sleep at age 89. Bill is remembered for his wide warm smile, strong core values, sense of humor, and passion for helping others. Anyone who dealt with him knew that his handshake was a […]

Eleanor van Cott Remembered
By Richard Mineards   |   April 19, 2022

On a personal note, I remember Eleanor Van Cott, a longtime trustee and former president of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, who has just moved to more heavenly pastures at the age of 99.  A native of New York, Eleanor, best known for efforts to make our town’s University Club inclusive of women, worked for […]

Martha Maxwell (Maxi) Dickinson Heimlich Riggs Bohannon Decker 
By Bob Ingersoll   |   April 19, 2022

“She never changed the Stars from their appointed courses,But she loved good men and she rode good horses.” April 23, 1927 – January 16, 2022 An Ode to MaxiOf a Southern belle I will tell, with charms that were swell,Who hailed from old Tennessee.With style and grace and a beautiful face,She came from a high […]

Gordon Guy Remembered
By Richard Mineards   |   April 12, 2022

On a personal note, I mark the move to more heavenly pastures of Gordon Guy, longtime executive director of the 73-year-old nonprofit New House, a recovery center for men with alcohol and drug problems. The charity, which has three facilities in our Eden by the Beach, holds its annual fundraiser at the Hilton emceed by […]

Ted Tedesco
By Montecito Journal   |   April 12, 2022

In a tribute to Ted Tedesco on his 90th birthday, his son David said, “Show me a man who does not like Ted Tedesco because I don’t believe it.” A tribute from a friend said he learned three things from Ted: “It’s important to carry on no matter what life throws at you, remember to […]

Derek Kenneth Hunter
By Montecito Journal   |   March 15, 2022

Derek (“Derk”) Kenneth Hunter passed away peacefully February 19, 2022, at his home in Woodside, California, surrounded by his family. Born April 25, 1931, in San Marino, California, he was the son of Kenneth and Helen Hunter. He is predeceased by his wife, Fredricka (“Dricka”) Hunter, his daughter, Antonia (“Toni”) Hunter Breck, and his brothers, […]

Richard L. Kahler, M.D.
By Montecito Journal   |   March 15, 2022

Richard Lee Kahler, MD, FACC, beloved husband, cherished father and grandfather, and treasured family member and friend, died peacefully at home on February 21, 2022, at the age of 89. Dick was a longtime resident of La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, and Montecito, California, before moving to Colorado in his final decade. Professionally, Dr. Kahler […]

Aristides Burton Demetrios, 1932-2021
By Montecito Journal   |   December 28, 2021

Aristides (Aris) Burton Demetrios was born in Lincoln, Massachusetts, on February 17,1932. He was born to a family of celebrated artists. His father was classical sculptor George Demetrios, who was a student of Bourdelle and had studied with Rodin. His mother was Virginia (Jinnee) Lee Burton, a celebrated author illustrator of children’s books, including “Mike […]

Jesse Alexander, 1929-2021
By Montecito Journal   |   December 28, 2021

Jesse Alexander, 92, a photographer who documented the golden age of motorsport, passed away on December 14, 2021, in Santa Barbara. He was comfortable and at home, with his beloved wife, Nancy, by his side, holding his hand. Jesse was born on April 15, 1929, in Santa Barbara to Florence Louise Lyman and Junius Beverly […]

D. William Wagner, Human and Legal Rights Champion
By Montecito Journal   |   December 21, 2021

D. William (Bill) Wagner, 78, passed December 7, 2021, at home in Santa Barbara, surrounded by his wife and sons. Bill was born to Earl and Lois Wagner in Dixon, Illinois, and raised in Sterling, Illinois. A lifelong love of language and people led him from consecutive statewide debate championships for Illinois in 1960 and […]

Remembering Robertson “Bob” Short
By Sharon Byrne   |   October 12, 2021

The Montecito community sadly lost one of its greatest Benevolent Godfathers (and there are a few running around here) in Bob Short. A force to be reckoned with, Bob left a great legacy for Montecito. You may not have known him – or known him well – so we want to take a moment and […]

Bob Short: A Community Icon
By Sharon Byrne   |   October 5, 2021

Bob Short, an icon and pillar of the Montecito community, passed this week. While we all adjust to the news, we will be visiting with his friends and family in the coming days to do a much longer piece on his remarkable life and significant contributions to Montecito next week. But, for now, please know […]

Peter Clark: A Man That Always Chose to Give Back
By Denice Spangler Adams   |   September 14, 2021

Peter Clark always chose good, and “quietly” did good, never publicly sharing his many good deeds for others. The Montecito Journal’s society tribute to Peter was excellent, however I feel compelled as his decades’ long “jazz mom friend” to add to this exceptional man’s legacy from observations and what he shared over coffee near his […]

Remembering Peter Clark: An Incredible Musical Talent and Even Better Man
By Nick Masuda   |   August 31, 2021

Dingle is a quiet port town along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, a little cove for some 2,050 people best known for its resident dolphin, Fungie. But on this particular night in 2005, it was another fun guy that captured the hearts of locals and the dozens of Santa Barbarans that had made the trek to […]