Helene Beaver was one of the most involved Santa Barbara community leaders of her time. Though her years on the Santa Barbara City Council from 1993-1997 were the most visible in her civic participation, her work in our community far exceeded her time in elective office.
Helene was born in 1939 in Yugoslavia and came to the United States in 1951 as a refugee after World War II. The love of her life was Jerry Beaver, and they had three sons — David, Philip, and John. The Beaver household was a center of social life for generations of Roosevelt Elementary, Santa Barbara Junior High, and Santa Barbara High School students who were friends of one or more of the “Beaver boys.” Their rambling house set back from Mission Canyon Road was always open, friendly, and accommodating, especially at holidays.
The Beavers were among the early and enthusiastic proponents of tennis in Santa Barbara. Soon after acquiring their home in the 1960s, they built a tennis court on it. Helene and Jerry helped to create the Tennis Club of Santa Barbara, and they were founders of the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons Association.