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Sigrid McLaughlin Obituary

Sigrid McLaughlin
Feb. 25, 1940-June 29, 2015
Resident of Santa Cruz
Sigrid McLaughlin passed away peacefully at home on June 29, 2015.
Sigrid was a vibrant personality with an enduring love of nature and a passion for connecting with other human beings. She found great joy in her garden, in the mountains, and in her travels. She worked tirelessly in championing local, national and international environmental and social justice issues. She read to isolated older people, hosted vulnerable people in her home, all the while striving to become a deeper, kinder, better and more aware person.
Sigrid was born in Berlin, Germany. She studied at the Free University of Berlin and won a scholarship to Stanford. There she received her BA and went on to receive a doctorate in Russian Literature at UC Berkeley.
When Stevenson College opened at UCSC, Sigrid was among the founding faculty members, teaching Russian and Russian Literature. She married and had two sons, Quinn and Chris. Sigrid loved to travel. After her children left home, she travelled extensively in Asia, studying and practicing Buddhism, which became the core of her spiritual practice.
Sigrid had a wide circle of friends. She was active in the local German community, participated in several writing groups, and was an expert photographer with a skilled eye for the details of nature. She practiced Tibetan Buddhism with like-minded friends, who were a great comfort to her in her final days. She left this life in a spirit of joy, surrounded by loved ones and friends.
Sigrid is survived by her sons, Quinn of Santa Cruz and his son, Benji; Chris and his wife, Brigitte, of Winnipeg, Canada and their children, Anouk, and Lara; her former husband, Barry McLaughlin, and his wife, Linda St. John of Santa Cruz.
A Celebration of Sigrid's Life will be held at the UCSC Arboretum on Saturday July 25 at 2pm. The family sends their heartfelt appreciation to the Santa Cruz Hospice Staff and to the Care from the Heart Caregivers, all of whom blessed Sigrid's final days with a genuine tender circle of warmth, caring and support. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Hospice of Santa Cruz County.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel from Jul. 14 to Jul. 18, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
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Eleanor Kieran

October 24, 2017

I was saddened to read of Sigrid's illness and death today Oct.24 ,2017 I lived in an apartment underneath her in Spaulding Avenue Berkeley from 1965-1967. I had frequent contact with her mother Erica who was one of the kindest people I met in Berkeley. Sigrid was finishing her Ph. D then and I was teaching in Marin county, Calif. I am from Ireland and unforeseen circumstances led me back here to Dublin. I have memories of visiting Sigrid and Barry when she gave a party after setting up to work in Santa Cruz. I came with Rafael Canga from Peru who also lived in the apartment building in Berkeley.
I admired both Erica and Sigrid for their bravery in coming to US and finding a home and work there. I wish her sons and family success in their lives. May Erica and Sigrid be at peace.
Eleanr Kieran Dalkey, Ireland
I did not know that her husband's name was McLouglin. Her family then has Irish -German roots.

Dieter W.l Winter

September 17, 2015

Sigrid war eine Zeitlang in meiner Klasse. Schon damals war sie für uns ein besonderes Mädchen, freundlich und hilfsbereit.
Bei zahlreichen Klassentreffen in Königstein und Pirna (Sächsische Schweiz, Deutschland) war sie eine begehrte Erzählerin, hat sie doch in ihrem Leben so manches erleben dürfen. Das letzte Mal trafen wir uns im vergangenen Jahr.
Und nun bleibt uns nur noch die Erinnerung an sie. Ich werde sie nicht vergessen können.

Tommy Murray

September 11, 2015

I lost contact with Sigrid a long time ago. Upon reading this by chance, I am saddened that we have all lost a spiritual icon. I will always remember her kindness, and her acceptance of 'how things are' will always help to guide me (and many others, I am sure). Rest in peace my friend, xo

Carl Stancil

July 26, 2015

As one of my dearest friends for more than 25 years she was fearless, tenacious and compassionate. Sigrid supported me during the illness and passing of my partner Rosmarie. Fiercely independent she tenderly helped me see life as a path filled with opportunities to learn and grow.
Whether in the tubs at Esalen, photographing a mother in Mali or speaking with a Tibetan trader on a trail in the Himalayas Everest she was present and engaged with life.
Bless you Sigrid. I am a better person for having known you.

July 16, 2015

Sigrid was a brilliant writer and had lived such an unusual life. I had the privilege of being in a writing group with her for many years. She loved her family and will be missed by many. A Sigrid story: right after I got the news of her passing, I 'felt' her around me, saying, in her very emphatic way, "It's all about love! It's all about love!" Thank you, Sigrid. We love you and miss you and will remember you with love always.
Jean Wolff

July 16, 2015

Sigrid was always trying to make the world a better place. I believe she left behind this legacy in her sons, Quinn and Chris, who will carry on her giving spirit.
Sally Wittman

Daniel Slick

July 15, 2015

Such a great teacher! I took her course in modern Soviet lit way back in the late 70's. She opened my eyes to a type of literature I didn't know existed. I still have the books we used on my shelves. Noteworthy too was the structure of the class itself. We all sat around one long table and were "forced" to submit a question at the beginning of class and then "forced" to discuss our answers. If I were going to be a teacher today I indeed might want to design a class with this structure in mind. It really worked. Ahem, she gave me an excellent narrative evaluation, perhaps because I volunteered to give an oral presentation of Socialist Realism. Another item: she would hold on occasions evenings at her home on High Street, along with Barry her husband (and with the kids sleeping peacefully elsewhere).Even a year later I crashed one of those evening, dragged there by one of her students, one "Claire," who insisted I come--but perhaps to the chagrin of Sigrid herself. One of our textbooks was by a person named Struve, so now when I cross Struve Slough I know how to pronounce the name.
Today I'm a frequent visitor at Medicine Buddha, and now that I know her connection to Buddhism, I should think of her on the trails there. (I am a Catholic, by the way.)
Blessings to the family and loved ones. A soul who has affected others in the most inspirational of ways has passed on.

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Celebration of Life

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