The tables were adorned with decorative linen and mouth-watering foods. Lovely centerpieces were surrounded by political swag, pamphlets, and bumper stickers. White and red wines, sparkling beverages, and sometimes champagne chilled in anticipation of guests. Soft music played in the background, or my dad played jazz standards on the piano. Then the guests, community leaders, change-makers, change-seekers, and the honored public figure filed in for the gathering: a meeting, a fundraiser, a campaign event, or just a private party with friends. This was the scene that played out and repeated at my childhood home on the border of Santa Barbara and Montecito for more than six decades. It was because of my mother June Carol Sochel.
June Carol Cosner was born May 1, 1933. She passed away peacefully at her Santa Barbara home on April 18, 2022, after a brief and serious illness. She was 88 years young, leaving an indelible mark on Santa Barbara.
Although she was less than five feet tall, June cast a long shadow and left large tracks around our city and county. Her decades of contributions were easy to miss because they were typically from behind the scenes. Unknown to June, close friends affectionately nicknamed her, “The Little General.” Though not a public figure herself, June informed, chastised, molded, and inspired many who were, or who were to become community leaders, including nonprofit executives, mayors, city councilmembers, and county supervisors among them. June was a force of nature, quick to laugh and smile, and equally quick to give her opinions, usually with passion, underpinned by concern, care, and love.
