By Jondi Gumz
Debby Towne, 70, who lost her life walking at night, struck in a crosswalk by a hit-and-run driver in the small city of Capitola, is not forgotten.
Her neighbors at the Bay Avenue Senior Apartments joined family members and friends for a candlelight vigil Dec. 2 at the place where she was hit, the Crossroads loop by busy Bay Avenue.
A spontaneous memorial days after the accident.
They walked down Bay Avenue and gathered near the tree where her daughter, Adrienne West, had posted a tribute, near the spot where flowers and photos had been left in her memory.
Debby Towne had three children, Pat, Adrienne and Andy.
She was the mom who made spaghetti from scratch, and baked chocolate chip cookies after school — the mom who made a house a home — the smells of home all around, the food, the photos, the warm fire burning.
She was a mom who started her daughter dancing at age 3, and then kept dancing and performing with her for 20 years. She performed Hawaiian dances at Santa’s Village and hula was her favorite.
She was the mom who helped in the classroom, going on all the field trips, coming to all the events and parties for kids growing up in a small town.
She was the mom who volunteered to run the Capitola Soquel Little League snack shack.
She was the mom who listened, who welcomed everyone who needed a place of comfort or a warm meal.
She was a caregiver who had great friendships with those she cared for, even visiting people who no longer recognized her.
She loved to walk with her dog Spot.
She loved to hula, which is why at her celebration of life service Dec. 15 at Twin Lakes Church, colorful leis were available for guests and Lorraine Kinnamon sang and performed a hula with two other dancers as a tribute.
And there was her 1969 Citadel yearbook from Soquel High School along with albums and albums of photos, and a slide show of memories – holidays, family get-togethers, newborn babies, Debby’s hair in braids, always a smile on her face.
At the vigil, Adrienne spoke of her loss.
Her 11-year-old twins Gavin and Kylie are bereft.
Her mom was there when Gavin hit a triple at Little League despite a broken arm.
One woman called out, “We’re here for you Adrienne. Call on us.”
Adrienne’s husband Jeff said, “We need to be a thorn in the side of the City Council in a positive way. Make the street safer. How many more people have to be killed?”
As the winter day darkened, Adrienne said the area had been known to be a hazard for 15 years.
The crosswalk where Debby Towne was struck is under the control of the Capitola City Council, which agreed 12 days later to order six flashing stop signs for the area as a way to improve safety.
TOP PHOTO: Norma Jean Tasker (fluorescent vest far right) is among those who came to the vigil for Debby Towne. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
For more, read Deadly Intersection to Get Flashing Stop Signs