This memorial page is dedicated to all who helped shape – and were influenced by – the great institution that is UC Santa Barbara.
For faculty, please visit Academic Senate Memoriam page.
Doran Ross '75 - September, 2020
died Sept. 16 in Los Angeles. Ross was a renowned museum curator of African and African-American art at the UCLA Fowler Museum. Ross helped develop the museum’s $22 million renovation in 1992 and became the first full time non-faculty director of the museum in 1996. He was a prolific scholar making more than 40 research trips to 18 different African countries to study art. His focus was Ghanian art and he helped edit a textbook on Ghanian textiles. During his career he was a lecturer at Santa Barbara City College, UC Berkeley and the California Institute for the Arts.
Carl Sjovold '70 - September, 2020
died Sept. 19 in Santa Barbara. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years.
Carl Sjovold '70 - September, 2020
died Sept. 19 in Santa Barbara. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years.
Darryl Richard Tate '76 - September, 2020
died Sept. 1 in Ventura. He spent 33 years as a criminalist with the California Department of Justice at the Criminalistics Lab in Goleta. He started as a part-time lab technician while attending UCSB and retired as the Laboratory Director in 2009.
Craig Steven Palonen '69 - July, 2020
died July 24 in Santa Barbara. He had a long and successful career in real estate development. While pursuing a master’s degree in business from CSU Long Beach he discovered his passion for building and construction. He completed 23 residential and commercial projects in 24 years.
Melanye Gmerek '72 - March, 2020
Melanye touched the hearts of everyone she met. She was one of the kindest, smartest, generous, most fun-loving ladies I will ever know & love. Mel nurtured friendships formed in 1st and 2nd grade as some of her closest friends - WHO ELSE CAN SAY THAT? When I was failing ECON 101 (again!), she graciously stepped in to tutor me. For reasons I'll never understand, she fell in love with my dad and became my best friend. She brought life and light to our family in ways we had never known. Our lives were forever changed. Miss you Mel, forever & always.