Loved Ones Lost: Stanley Emmet Shaw, Ernestine Depp Patrick, Alfred Daniel Eliason

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a terrible toll on our Santa Barbara County communities — as of this writing, 236 of our neighbors are dead. In an ongoing series, the Independent is putting names and faces to this growing number with the purpose of conveying the human toll of the coronavirus. We feel it is important to recognize and remember these individuals as people, not just statistics. To share the story of a lost friend or loved one, contact Senior Editor Tyler Hayden at tyler@independent.com.

Stanley Emmet Shaw

Stanley Emmet Shaw’s lifelong passion for flying started at the age of 22, when he earned his pilot’s license and purchased his first plane. He spent the rest of his years as a consummate dealmaker, buying, selling, and trading planes and helicopters and living by the adage: “The one who dies with the most toys wins,” said his daughter, Sydney.

Stan passed away at 85 on December 30, 2020, from complications of COVID-19. He’s survived by his wife of 50 years, Norma; five children; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.