David Hugh Hardin

The family of David Hugh Hardin announces with sadness his passing in Santa Barbara after his battle with Parkinson’s. David died peacefully in his home with wife, Rita Hardin. The family wishes to extend special thanks to the Santa Barbara VNA Hospice for all the care, support, empathy, and dignity helping David make his end-of-life time as comfortable as possible.

David was the youngest of four children born to Garrett James Hardin and Jane Swanson Hardin, longtime residents of Santa Barbara. His survivors include siblings Hyla Fetler, Peter Hardin, and Sharon Clausen, and daughter, Sarah Imershein.

David’s education included high school years in England, where he earned a diploma before attending the University of California at Santa Cruz with sister, Sharon as some of the earliest attendees of the school. His daughter would later go on to graduate from UCSC as well. In 1973, he married Kathleen Russell of San Diego. In his early career, David worked in construction, and in 1975, he and Kathy welcomed their daughter Sarah to the world.

David maintained the passion for soccer he had cultivated in England, playing regularly in local adult leagues for many years. It was here that he met and fell in love with Rita Kirkpatrick, his companion and life partner. Together since 1981, they married in 2003, uniting two families that included Lisa, Kevin, and Amy, Rita’s children from her first marriage.

Through the 1980s to 2000s, David worked as a handyman, gardener and carpenter, while also caring for his aging parents and extended family in Santa Barbara. He helped maintain the family home, Arbo, that was a welcoming and safe sanctuary for many people over the years. In his later career, David returned to his love of linguistics by first volunteering, then working for the non-profit, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (Learning Ally). David was an avid reader and found great joy in spreading this passion through supportive technology and services.

In his leisure time, David applied the Hardin family’s love of bridge to the Santa Barbara Bridge Club, where he was an active member for many years. When Aunt Florence Hardin moved from Illinois to Santa Barbara in 1996, she and David began playing at the club from time to time, eventually launching an epic stint as partners that ended only with her death in 2014 at the age of 102.

David was grandfather to Ben and Sophie Imershein, born to Sarah and her husband, Louis Imershein. David’s family also includes Hyla’s daughter, Rachel, her husband Carlo Caballero and their children, Nico and Juniper; and Luke and Caleb Clausen, the sons of sister Sharon. Rita’s children and grandchildren are integral to David’s family network, and include Amy Aldworth and Kevin Kirkpatrick, their spouses, and offspring.

Also grieving his loss are his Hardin cousins, Mary, Rebecca, and Tim Hardin, and Melinda Allstadt, and their children and grandchildren.

The family is extremely thankful for gathering together this summer for a reunion for the first time in many years. These last years have been challenging for many and gathering together again in joy and support was incredibly meaningful to David and family in these last months of life.

At all times, David was a kind and supportive husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, and friend. He always tried to do the right thing, and with intelligence, steadfast determination, and humor.

All join in thanking the many who have expressed their love and sympathies in countless heartfelt ways. Memorial donations may be made to VNA Health or Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara.