Donna Cavin

Donna Arlene Kweller Cavin

Donna Kweller Cavin passed away peacefully at her home in Sebastopol on November 22 2023 ending a courageous 10-year battle against cancer. By her side was Curtis Cavin, her husband of 46 years.

Born in Pittsburgh PA on August 18 1950 to Edward and Frances Kweller, Donna was the youngest of three siblings. Her sister Ruth enticed Donna to join her in San Francisco. On New Years Day 1971 with a foot of snow on the ground, Donna boarded a plane to join her sister Ruth in San Francisco. The temperature was a balmy 72 degrees and she was not going back. 

In 1974 on a chilly November evening at sunset, Donna went on a first date with Curtis, riding topside on the Sausalito ferry, hiding out on board to avoid the return fare. Three years later they set off on a three-year adventure to Southeast Asia. They married on Aug 5 1977 in Satahip Thailand. While living and working in Bangkok teaching English, Donna developed a passion for preparing local foods, learning skills from Thai friends and watching native cooks in open air markets.

Donna and Curtis moved back to San Francisco, where son Noah was born in 1982. Four years later they purchased their first home located in a charming woodland setting near Sebastopol. Daughter Cayla was born in 1989. Before retiring in 2012, Donna held executive assistant positions at Creative Leisure, Humane Society of Sonoma County and SSU Administrative Services.

Donna cherished her family more than anything. The recent birth of her first grandchild brought tremendous joy. She loved everyone, had a great sense of humor, fun-loving, voracious reader, prolific quilter, a freethinker, a humanitarian and a strong advocate for social justice.

Donna loved to prepare exotic meals for friends. In the mid 1990's  she joined an International Gourmet Food Group, a regular gathering of well-traveled friends exploring cuisines of various countries. For the past 18 years she was an active member of e Vampus Clitus, an unceremonious group of close-knit North Coast women.

A passionate traveler with an affinity for straying off the beaten path, Donna preferred backroads over freeways, In addition to most US states, she and Curtis visited 26 countries together, including Europe, Asia and South America.

Donna was predeceased by her parents and sister Ruth Goldhammer. She is survived by husband Curtis, Sebastopol, brother Robert Kweller (Debbie), Sonoma, son Noah (Rebecca), Santa Rosa, daughter Cayla Tankersley (Ben) and son Rowan, Mountain View and nephews Ben Goldhammer, Alex Goldhammer and Joshua Kweller. She leaves behind many friends, several decades-long, and all will miss her deeply.

In lieu of services, a memorial is planned for early 2024. In leiu of flowers, plant a tree in her memory, or perhaps a contribution to World Central Kitchen at wck.org.