AnonymousBy Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Dave Denniston: A Celebration of Life
Where: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara When: Saturday, February 1, 2020, 4:30-6:00 pm
All welcome
It is with heavy hearts that the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum received the news that long-time SBMM Docent and Volunteer Dave Denniston passed away right before the Christmas Holiday. His passing is a great loss for the SBMM family. Dave began volunteering at SBMM even before we opened our doors. He worked in our Preview Center (where the SBMM Museum Store is now located), showing visitors what our future exhibits would look like, and generating interest and support for the Museum. Some of you may have met Dave when he volunteered at our Kiosk and welcomed visitors to the 4th floor Outdoor Visitor center. For many years, he was also a Ranger volunteer, helping to decorate the boat for the annual Parade of Lights. But perhaps most of all, Dave was a big part of our education programming, bringing Museum activities to Santa Barbara’s elementary school Science Nights, welcoming Santa Barbara’s 4th graders to their overnight experience on the Spirit of Dana Point, leading tours for visitors of all ages.
Wherever there was a need for volunteers, Dave was there and, in 2014, Dave was one of five long-time volunteers honored at SBMM’s annual fundraiser and received the praise of his long-time friends at the Museum: Executive Director Greg Gorga said, “What I will miss most about David is his sense of humor, his love of all things maritime, and how he always corrected me when I messed up my nautical terms.”
President of the Board of Directors, Don Barthelmess, said, “He was a gentleman and a huge part of SBMM family. I always enjoyed his presence at so many SBMM events and remain inspired by his volunteer spirit and kindness. He will be missed but not soon forgotten.”
Eight bells for our friend, David Denniston.
From Greg Gorga, Executive Director:
His passing is a great loss to the SBMM family. Dave began volunteering at SBMM several years before we opened our doors. He, along with current SBMM Board Member Andy Cooper and volunteer Lorelei Snyder, worked our Preview Center (now the SBMM Museum Store) showing visitors drawings of what our future exhibits would look like, and generating interest, and support, for the future Museum. When I started here in 2007, I began to learn Santa Barbara’s rich maritime history by going on tours with Dave (and Andy). Dave also volunteered at our Kiosk and the 4th floor, and for many years was a Ranger volunteer and helped decorate the boat for the Parade of Lights. And of course Dave was a big part of our education programming, volunteering for Science Nights, Spirit, and more over the years. In 2014 Dave was one of five long-time volunteers we honored at our annual fundraiser.
