Glen Robert Haffner

October 16, 1961 - February 7, 2021 Woodland, CA

“It is better to light one candle than curse the darkness.” These are the words Glen Robert Haffner lived by. His candle was extinguished far too soon on February 7, 2021. He was born Harold Tate on October 16, 1961 in Los Angeles and was soon after adopted by Robert and Arlene Haffner. He grew up in southern California and attended Arizona State University majoring in architecture. As a young man he moved to Whidbey Island, WA and became a talented chef. He was briefly married to Debi Bracken and had two children. After a particularly rainy season in Washington, he remarked to his coworker Laura that he was moving back to sunny California. She insisted that he should meet her sister in Sacramento. After months of her nagging both Glen and her sister, they finally agreed to a blind date. Laura was right – it was a match made in heaven. Glen and Chris were married five months later. Glen worked for Nugget Markets for 14 years where he was a leader, mentor, and friend to many. In 2012 he left Nugget to pursue his dream of opening his own restaurant. At Aria Mediterranean Bistro, his cannolis were world famous and his chicken gorgonzola made women swoon. He took great pride in our historic home, opening it to the public for the both the Stroll through History and Dickens in the Valley. Without him, the house plants at Gllynchroft are doomed. Without him, laughter on the wine patio will be hollow. Without him, his trivia teammates will never win another game. Without him, people will have to pay their own bridge tolls and buy their own coffee at the drive-thru. He was always on the lookout for doing some small good. His impact in this world was made through the many little ripples he left behind. The world is a better place because of his quick wit, artistic sensibility, generous heart, and most importantly his wise and empathic soul. He is preceded in death by his father and his dear Aunt Joan and Uncle Paul. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Chris; his children, Blake (Sam), Justin, Michael (Jillian), Morgan, and Reed; the hearts of his heart, his granddaughters, Juniper and Everly; and many, many friends and “framily.” A private memorial will be scheduled for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Woodland Food Closet in his memory.