Richard William Jensen

Richard William Jensen was laid to rest at Santa Barbara Cemetery in a private ceremony for the immediate family. Present were wife Bonnie, daughters Heidi Winston, Erin Jensen, sons-in-law Ronald and Noe along with grandsons Royce, Blaise and Richard. An honor guard provided a traditional interment and a bugler played “Taps.”  Rev. Julia Hamilton officiated the family sharing and prayer closing.

“Dick” as he was affectionately called, passed away November 29, 2020, from kidney disease.  He lived a full and active 83 years having overcome a hospital staff infection in midlife, and rheumatic fever in childhood. He will always be remembered for his infectious smile, the twinkle in his eye, and his go-to response of being “100%“.

Dick took an active volunteer role on many boards of non-profits serving the Santa Barbara community over the course of his life. He was ten years with creation of the city’s first privately funded park that opened in 1985, and which ultimately expanded and became Elings Park in 1999.

He also served and contributed to the recent PARC Cabrillo Bathhouse renovations at East Beach. He saw it as paying it forward in gratitude for his own years in idyllic Santa Barbara.

Helping to secure equality and fairness for all in health, social, and climate impacts was at the heart of Dick’s participation for over half of a century.

Going forward in these urgent times, and to honor Dick, please consider the SB League of Women Voters, Community Environmental Council and Planned Parenthood CCC for their resilience and pertinency of mission.