Phyllis Lenker
Phyllis Lenker passed away on Friday, May 17th at Cottage Hospital with family members at her side. Her lungs simply were not able to supply her with enough oxygen.
Phyllis was born in Melrose Park, a suburb of Chicago, in1946. Her mother died tragically when Phyllis was only 2. In the next 4 years, her father and several relatives who lived close by were her family.
Her father remarried when Phyllis was 6, and the family of 3 moved to Lakewood, after her fathers’ job transfer. When first stepping off the plane at LAX in December of 1958, and feeling the warm Santa Ana wind, she knew she was home.
She lived in Lakewood thru Jr. High and High School, and a few years after graduation, she moved out of the family home, where her little brother Karl and her little sister Jeanne were living, both having been born in California.
Phyllis moved out on her own, got married, and had a son in Long Beach. The young hippie family, with toddler Sebastian (named after John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful), and hit the road in a VW bus, settling in Washington State.
One winter was enough, and the family went south until they stopped in Santa Barbara. So Phyllis began her settled adult life in Santa Barbara in 1972, with a husband and a 2 year old son.
They worked together to create a successful painting business, and Phyllis also began working at UCSB in Student Activities. She joked about her involvement in bringing the first XXX rated movie, “Behind the Green Door”, to Santa Barbara County, where it was shown on campus in Campbell Hall.
During her time at UCSB she also began a “side gig”, catering rock concerts. The Grateful Dead, The Doobies, Fleetwood Mac, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, and at least 10 other acts were fed by Phyllis at the Arlington, The Bowl, and UCSB.
The early 80’s saw the end of her marriage and the beginning of her life as a single mom. She knew she needed a job that would provide benefits for her two children. Bryan Dylan (after Bob) Smithson was born in 1975. The mother of two became the first health clerk at DPHS, where everyone called her nurse, but she was paid like a clerical person. She was not a nurse. She worked at DP for 20 years and retired in 2001.
At DP she met a teacher, John Lenker. They dated and got married in November of 1985.
During her career at DP she moved from the health office to an office in another building, where all the action was. She became secretary to both the Athletic Director Scott O’Leary and Vice Principal Steve Meister. While in that office, Phyllis found her true calling. She coached the cheerleaders and song leaders. She was the Senior class advisor, and the advisor to the Leadership class. She lead the planning of most school-wide social activities. As the Senior class advisor, she was in the middle of all of the graduation activities.
In the meantime, John adopted Seb and Bryan. Phyllis and John moved to Oxnard Shores in anticipation of their retirement. Soon after, Phyllis’ restlessness caused her to want to sell real estate with her friend, Renee Grubb.
She began working at Village Properties, and one day, stuck on the 101 heading north to a real estate appointment, she called John and said “can we move back to Santa Barbara, please?” So they moved back to Santa Barbara in 2003, where Phyllis continued her successful real estate career, until she couldn’t.
Phyllis’ happiest times were always doing something with her boys or her four grandchildren, usually baseball.
In her real estate career she was most satisfied helping young families buy their first home. She also liked it when friends trusted her to help them sell their homes.
Phyllis leaves her husband John, son Sebastian and his two sons Tyler John and Will Griffin. She also leaves Bryan, his wife Annett and their two children Astrid Elizabeth and David Albert. She also leaves Seb’s partner of 10 years, Christina.
A celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held on Saturday, June 15th at John and Phyllis’ home. Friends who would like to attend should RSVP to PLenker@Villagesite.com.