Mark Raymond Torresani

Mark Torresani, long time Santa Barbara, CA resident, passed away May 13, 2015, a few weeks after a diagnosis of cancer. His two sons, Tristan and Trevor Torresani, his former wife, Amanda Torresani, his sister, Karen Jackson and family, and his best friend and inseparable companion, Sunny, survive Mark.

When he was a young boy, Mark moved to the Santa Barbara area with his father, Gene Torresani. Mark attended local schools, graduating from San Marcos High in 1966. During his high school years, they lived in the Santa Ynez Valley, where he landed his first real job at Rancho San Fernando Rey. Mark grew up with horses and dogs, and his love of animals led him to enroll at UC Chico with the hope of becoming a veterinarian, but that was not to be.

In 1973, Mark married Amanda Davis and enrolled in SBCC’s Marine Diving Technology program. Three years later, they moved to Scotland where Mark began his diving career in the North Sea. This was a far cry from ranch life, but Mark took to it “like a duck to water” and enjoyed 10+ years as a commercial diver in job locations around the world.

Mark had worked construction jobs with his contractor dad from the time he was a small boy. When it was time to leave his storied diving career, transitioning to being a carpenter and handyman came naturally. Mark, with a Dodger hat on his head, behind the wheel of his truck, and a dog always riding shotgun were a common sight around Santa Barbara for many years.

Mark had a passion for playing chess, poker, pool, and softball. More recently, Mark and Sunny could be found at the Summer Solstice yard lending their multiple talents to the celebration, making many new ‘Solstice’ friends.

Please join us for Mark’s Celebration of Life at Shoreline Park, Santa Barbara, on Saturday, June 27th at 2pm. Be sure to bring your ‘Mark stories’ to share with his family and friends.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Serenity House and SBVNHC for their loving care during Mark’s short illness.