Steven Douglas Hanson

Steven Douglas Hanson, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

Long time, many decades, Santa Barbara Harbor resident. Captain of El Rojo, a Chinese Junk, until she kind of sank or something, then Captain of Endeavor, Marina One Slip 9? I forget.

Died surrounded by nobody alone on his boat. I think that’s how he wanted to go. Not a misanthrope, just liked solitude. Regaled me with long ago tales of hippy life in a never to be seen again version of Carpinteria. Hijinks like having no money, waltzing in the back door at the Palms Restaurant, keeping a random steak from the grill, popping it in a bag and sauntering out unmolested. He liked camping at Middle Ynez Campground because there was usually no one else there and riding his old ten speed on the mountain trails until he crashed on his face and decided to quit that foolishness. As he got older his hearing went bad. I think he liked that. He’d not use his hearing aids because he just wasn’t much interested in what anyone had to say. Good guy! ❤️ Heart of gold. 🥇
His career was with the phone company climbing poles and fixing cables shot by bored hunters, who probably wouldn’t know what to do with a buck if they ever were able to shoot one, until sidelined into disability with shoulder problems.

After that he started climbing and painting sailboat masts in the harbor. He’d haul himself right up fifty feet or however high put his earbuds in and listen to music, I think it was music, it could just as well been that late night conspiracy theory alien wackiness guy who’s name I can’t remember(Art Bell,) he wore earbuds, and worked at his own efficient pace until the job was done and done right.

He’ll be missed by me, Nobody SB Refugee Santa the Former Gardener for many different Gazillionairs all over SB County, John Adcock, another longtime hippy gardener harbor denizen and Santa Barbara Harbor Mayor and Captain of Genoa, Gordon Cota.

Rest In Peace Steve Hanson.