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Obituary for Jerry Bastian
updated: Jun 20, 2012, 11:13 AM
By Edhat Subscriber
Jerry Bastian died peacefully at his beach home with his family around him on June 10 after suffering a
stroke a few days earlier. He was born on March 11, 1931 in Oxnard to Lloyd and Madge Bastian of
South Dakota. His older brother Bud, of Lakeport, California, passed away years ago.
After a stint in the Army, Jerry graduated in 1959 from the University of San Francisco Dental School as
a doctor of dental surgery. He and his wife Mitzi moved to Goleta that same year where his family began
to grow, with sons Chad and Barkley and daughter Jamie. Jerry set up his dental practice on upper State
Street, where he practiced for 39 years until his retirement in 1998. In 1965, the family moved to their
beach home, where numerous adventures were launched over the years.
Jerry was an avid outdoorsman.He won numerous trophies as a competitive spear-fisherman but also
enjoyed hook-and-line fishing in both fresh and salt water. He was a hunter for many years, journeying
to other states in quest of game. Jerry also enjoyed surfing. This love of outdoors and the ocean became
a legacy for his children and grandchildren, and for the many friends who were to follow.
In the 1970s, Jerry became fascinated with shipwrecks and began seeking wrecks throughout California
and Mexico. He even got a tattoo commemorating the wreck of the steamship Cuba off San Miguel
Island. As the years passed the children moved on to careers of their own, but they never lost their love
of the outdoors. A few years after the death of Jerry's first wife, Mitzi, Jerry married Chris Krach, who
became his devoted companion and soul mate.
Even though Jerry's consuming passion was with the outdoors, his greatest treasure was his family and
friends, dozens of whom turned out for a private celebration of his life and scattering of his ashes. Many
reminisced over Jerry's love of life, friends and fun. He inspired many young people with his abiding
interests in adventures, land and sea. He was the "Great Adventurer".
Jerry is survived by his wife, Chris, his eldest son Chad and his wife Lee Anne, his daughter Jamie and
her husband Jef Fry, and his youngest son Barkley, who is also a dentist, as well as step-daughter Krista
Surprenant and her husband Pete. Jerry is also survived by four grandchildren, Jamie and Jef's children
Anna and John Fry, Bark's daughter Jordan Bastian, and the newest edition, Krista and Pete Surprenant's
expected son, due in September.
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