Stephan Rene Lamb

1951 - 2025

Stephan Rene Lamb

December 17, 1951 - March 17, 2025

San Luis Obispo, CAlifornia - A native Californian, Stephan Lamb grew up in the college town of Claremont. His mother, a professor of Latin American Literature and poetry, taught at Scripps College as well as foreign universities in Spain, Brazil and Argentine through the Fulbright Scholarship program. Stephan lived with her during that time.

Those overseas living experiences engendered within Stephan a love of travel and foreign adventure. He lived in Rome during his undergraduate work at Santa Clara University and attended graduate school in Puebla, Mexico, obtaining a Masters of Arts degree in Latin American History.

Stephan was a strong advocate for nonprofit work and community involvement. Among other activities, he served as the President of the Board of Directors for Hospice of San Luis County, Inc., President of the Board of Directors of the AIDS Support Network of San Luis Obispo County (bringing the AIDS Quilt and Miss America to SLO), President of Board of Woods Humane Society (being a part of building the new Woods Shelter), Interim Board Chair for SLOCO ACCESS, and serving on the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council Board. More recently he traveled to South America volunteering with Eye Care International bringing eye care to underserved communities.

"The people I have met and the social issues with which I have worked have been simultaneously inspiring and humbling," Stephan said. "I have indeed been most fortunate to have had some very rich experiences.

He was the Director of the Assessment and Testing Center at Cal Poly, and worked in a wide variety of positions within the University's Student Affairs Division, including The Housing Department, advising the Week of Welcome (WOW program, serving on the implementation team that established the Open House program, and chaired the Arts Council committee which worked on updating San Luis Obispo County's 1994 Cultural Plan.

Stephan was an amazing creative artist. He developed a magical story colored on rolodex cards every day for years. He also wrote and illustrated the book, "The TALL Tale of Shorty the Giraffe (and a guide to giraffes in general)" which included a "giraffact" on each page.

Stephan enjoyed bringing people together for fun events the most recent was a "Pie Party" with various pies to sample on December 24th.

Born December 17th, 1951, he died March 17th, 2025. Stephan was preceded in death by his parents, Ray Gerland Lamb and Ellen Ruth Stanton Lamb, and his twin brother, Stanton Ray Lamb. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Gibson, his brother Robbin Lamb, Robbin's children Jeff & Erica Lamb (their children Emma and Jackson), Kristin Lamb & Josh Bennett (their children Lily and Violet), Gregory and Christine Lamb (their child Vito), his nephew Ryan Lamb (Lorelei), Ryan's daughters Karen Lamb and Jessica Lamb (Scott Polan), Ryan's grandsons Jase, Miles, Knox, and Kasen.

He is also survived by his dear friends: Michael & Steve, Polly & Jimmy, Rick and Jane, David and David, Edie, Ursula and Mark, Tess and Dan, Jim & Sherry, Pat, Cynthia and Steve, his buddies at Black Sheep, and so many more.

A "Celebration of his Life" will be held at the Dallidet Adobe in early August.