Barbara J. Tiffany

Barbara J. Tiffany
Feb. 20, 1921-Sep. 20, 2011
Resident of Santa Cruz
     Barbara Tiffany passed away peacefully in her sleep in Santa Cruz on September 20, 2011 at 90 years old. Barbara will be greatly missed by her family and many friends, and she will always be remembered for her kindness and helpfulness to others.
     Barbara was born on Feb. 20, 1921 to Charles Orville and Vine (Colby) McCasland in St. Louis, Missouri and was raised in Pasadena. Barbara's father, Charles McCasland, was a real estate investor, and her mother, Vine, was a close friend of the famous American poet, Sara Teasdale. Barbara's brother, Gifford E. McCasland, became a Professor of Chemistry at UC San Francisco.
     During World War II, while entertaining servicemen at the Hollywood Canteen, Barbara met Nelson H. Tiffany who was in the Air Force. Barbara and Nelson got married in 1945 and were married for 54 years. They raised three children, Paul, Lorayn and Susan in the San Fernando Valley. Barbara was very supportive and encouraged her children in all their pursuits.
     After the children left home, Barbara and Nelson lived in other areas of Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Diego. They enjoyed many vacations together, visiting U.S. National Parks, Europe, Russia (before the fall of the Iron Curtain), and the Caribbean.
     Nelson Tiffany was a Press Photographer who worked at the L.A. Times for 20 years and was President of the Calif. Press Photographers' Assoc. (CPPA). He took many photos of movie stars and politicians, including some award-winning photos of John F. Kennedy.
     Barbara worked at L.A. Valley College, College of the Desert in Palm Springs, and as an ESL Teacher at Hamilton Adult School in Torrance. She graduated with a B.A. degree from Calif. State University, Dominguez Hills in 1976.
     Barbara was a good piano player and played classical music most of her life. She was an avid reader and lifelong student of art, music, literature and languages. Barbara enjoyed reciting humorous poetry, bird watching, raising parrots, making arts and crafts, playing Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles.
     In 2007, Barbara moved to Santa Cruz and lived at La Posada for two years, and then she had to move to Driftwood HealthCare Center because of her failing health. She battled Alzheimer's Disease bravely for the last ten years until it took her strength.
     Barbara is survived by two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: her daughter, Lorayn Tiffany (of Santa Cruz), Lorayn's son, Travis Malek, his wife, Rochelle and their children (of Modesto); her son, Paul Tiffany and his daughter, Christyl (of Canoga Park) and Paul's ex-wife, Genie (of Cincinnati); her nephews, Jimmie and Doug McCasland and his wife, Virginia (of San Francisco), and her sister-in-law, Evelyn McCasland (of Goleta). A Memorial Service is being planned for a later date in Santa Cruz.