Daniel R. Venzor

Dan passed away peacefully on November 8, 2024, in Santa Barbara, CA at the age of 92.  Dan was born at St. Francis Hospital December 15, 1931, in Santa Barbar to Bruno and Marian Venzor.  Dan lived his entire life in Santa Barbara which he referred to as the pearl of the pacific. 

Dan attended Wilson Elementary, La Cumbre Junior High and Santa Barbara High School.  Dan was very active in sports all his life.  He played three years of varsity basketball, his sophomore, junior and senior years. Dan also played three years of varsity baseball. In 1949 our Santa Barbara Dons baseball team played for the C.I. F. championship against San Diego High School in San Diego at Lane Field.  Unfortunately, S.B. lost the big one.  They also lost some key players such as Eddie Matthews and Hal Allen Gino Filippin who graduated. In 1950 our Santa Barbara Dons baseball team again played for the C.I.F. championship, this time against Long Beach Poly in our hometown at Laguna Park Field.  For the second in as many years, we were again haunted by the same baseball ghost, losing to Long Beach Poly. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School in 1950, Dan proudly served with the United States Army during the Korean war via advanced training in Japan.  Dan was honorably discharged in June of 1952.

Marjorie Moulton graduated from Cour ‘d Alene High School in 1950.  Marge and her best friend, Ruth Swensen, moved to Santa Barbara in 1952. On a summers night in 1952 Dan and Marge’s life changed forever when they first met at Johnnies 7 Seas Club, the only place in Santa Barbara that featured live swing music. Dan and Marge became a couple and were married on November 16, 1956. In 1959 Marge gave birth to their son, David.

Dan was an avid fisherman especially trout fishing in the Eastern Sierras. In 1956 after some short-term job, Dan decided on a career with General Telephone Co. He held a variety of positions before being promoted into management as an engineering planner and then to engineering supervisor. In 1991 Dan accepted an early management retirement package.  He loved his job and being associated with some great people in the engineering group. Dan and Marge enjoyed their retirement traveling, Caribbean Cruises, and occasional trips to the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez to visit their money.

Dan started playing golf in 1959. During those 57 or so years Dan established a single digit handicap for most of his adult years.  With 1% skill and 99% luck, Dan had five holes in one including #10 twice. Dan needed holes in one on #8 and #16 to have aced every par 3 at Muni, now known as Santa Barbara Golf Club.

In the year 2000 tragedy struck. Dan and Marge’s only son died at age 40. Dan’s wife passed away in 2009 at age 77. Dan and Marge were married for 53 years.  In 2017 Dan ran into an old friend from the phone company, Karen Strickland. They joined at the hip until his passing. 

Graveside services will held on Tuesday, November 19, 1:15 pm at the Santa Barbara Cemetery.

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