Christian G. Spirandelli

August 7, 1938 - July 11, 2021

Barbara Smith Vaughn of Davis died peacefully on July 14, 2021, with her family by her side. She was the only child of Thomas Francis Feely, an Irish immigrant, and Jessie Shirley Hawkes, who immigrated from Canada. She was predeceased by her parents, her stepfather Robert Leonard of Maine, and her husbands Byron Anthony (Tony) Smith (1994) and Reese Barton (Bart) Vaughn (2016). Barbara was born and grew up in Portland, Maine, graduating from Portland’s Deering High School and Chandler College in Boston. Upon graduation from college, she took a life-changing trip to San Francisco and accepted a position in human resources at the home office of Fireman’s Fund Insurance. She met her husband Tony and they moved to Sacramento where she worked in human resources for Kaiser Hospital. She was the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Yolo County for many years and retired as an advisor to International Students and Scholars at the University of California at Davis. Except for a two-year period in Virginia while Tony had an assignment with the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., Barbara lived in the same family home in Davis for fifty years before relocating to Santa Rosa to be near family. In 2019, she and her husband Bob returned to Davis. She enjoyed spending the last 18 summers at her summer home in Wells, Maine.

Barbara loved planning trips and traveled to all fifty states and every continent except Antarctica. Ireland was the site of many visits with her numerous Irish as well as Canadian cousins. She counted paragliding in Switzerland, ziplining in Costa Rica, balloon riding in the Napa Valley, parasailing in Mexico, white water rafting, and, on her 75th birthday, skydiving in Sonoma County, among the many highlights of her life.

In addition to traveling, Barbara created many needlepoint projects, enjoyed golf, yoga, gardening, and playing bocce ball in their garden court home in Davis. She was in the same book group for over forty years. She was also actively involved over the years with numerous charitable organizations, serving as President of several, devoting her time to the K-12 PTA of her children’s schools, University Farm Circle and its scholarship program for UC Davis students, Enchanted Hills (San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind), Sacramento Symphony League, Friends of Mondavi at UC Davis, Davis League of Women Voters, Davis Flower Arrangers and P.E.O., a philanthropic organization for the education of women of Santa Rosa and Davis. Barbara loved spending time with her twelve grandchildren, kept in contact with many close friends living all over the United States and Europe from all periods of her life, and enjoyed making new friends wherever she went. A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she cherished her time spent with family and established many thoughtful traditions. There is a poem of unknown origin that sums up her wonderful life. It is so appropriate to Barbara that it must be Irish!

A limb has fallen from the family tree.

I keep hearing a voice that says,

“Grieve not for me. Remember the best times, the laughter, the song. The good life I lived while I was strong. Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you. Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through. My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest. Remembering all, how I truly was blessed. Continue traditions, no matter how small. Go on with your life, don’t worry about falls. I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin. Until the day comes we’re together again.” Barbara is survived by her loving husband Robert (Bob) Testa of Davis; son Byron Smith (Gabby) of San Anselmo; daughter Betsy Mischke (Bryan) of Santa Rosa; stepsons Michael Vaughn of Woodland; Nick Vaughn (Kaari) of Bend, Oregon; Michael Testa (Beth) of Sacramento; and stepdaughter Jennifer Testa White of Austin, Texas. “Baba” (as she was called by her grandchildren) enjoyed spending time with Lulu and Woodworth (Woody) Smith; Isak (Ike) and Arlo Mischke; Blake and Nick Vaughn; Katharine and Caroline Vaughn; Jessica and Ashley White; and Grace and Henry Testa.

She is also survived by her godchildren Michael Sawyer of South Carolina, Robert Englehardt of Maine, and Ann Hayden Peridas of Lafayette, California; sisterin-law Peggy Smith Prescott (Thomas) and nephew Tony Prescott of Napa; brothersin-law Chuck Vaughn (Barbara) and John Vaughn (Marla); sisters-in-law Molly Vaughn Hunter (Russ), Ginny Vaughn (Robert), and Sandra Testa Graham; and many cousins in Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, and the U.S.

Private burial service will be in Davis, California. A funeral mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church at 2:00 PM, Monday, July 26, followed by a celebration of her life with family and friends at the El Macero Country Club in Davis. Masks are required inside the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Barbara Smith Vaughn to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research at www. lustgarten.org, the Palliative Care Department at the University of California at Davis Medical Center in Sacramento , or the UC Davis Hospice Program in Sacramento.

Christian Georges Spirandelli passed away peacefully in his 83rd year at home with his loving wife, sister, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and dedicated caregiver by his side.

Christian led a full and impassioned life, throwing his entire creative self into his many endeavors, whether it was leading a group on a tour through Asia, serving a gourmet meal or renovating his beautiful 1908 San Francisco home. Known for his steely Spirandelli stare, he could lead any boardroom like no one’s business, but always a gentleman with composure and respect. To his close friends and family, Chris was as goofy and playful as he was stern.

Born August 7, 1938 in Paris, France to Robert, a Frenchman and Juliana, an American, Chris proudly adopted American Citizenship at birth and moved to the U.S. at 18 years of age. He served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1960, and following a few years in the Big Apple, he moved to the Bay Area where he made his home in San Francisco for the next 58 years. He met Diane, the love of his life, in 1968, whom he married the following year, and shared an incredible life for over 50 years.

An avid traveler of the world, Chris was engaged in the travel industry for over 65 years, serving as CEO and President of Bryan International Travel as well as Past President and Executive Director of SKAL International San Francisco. He believed profoundly in the global benefits of cultural exchange and international education, and served as President of the Board for French American International School of San Francisco from 1982 to 1989, where his daughter Danièle attended. Responsible for early and visionary expansion of the facility, he never tired of his can-do, never-give-up attitude and was incredibly proud of the world class institution that it has become.

Amateur photographer, architect, wood-worker, artist, Boy Scout leader, ardent tennis player, and lover of classical music, wine and history, Chris expressed his joie-de-vivre in countless ways. He understood the pure joy that is a good meal and shared his love with his cooking; few will forget his unmatched French onion soup, his annual Christmas bouillabaisse or crêpe suzette. Chris inspired many, perhaps most fervently his children, with both son and son-in-law picking up chef’s knives to carry on family culinary traditions.

Christian will be missed immensely. He is survived by his loving wife, Diane; son, Noel; daughter, Danièle; sister, Francine; four grandchildren, and many other important friends and family members. The family would also like to express our special thanks to Chris’ caregivers and hospice staff for their kindness and support during this difficult time. A private memorial service in honor of Chris’ life will be held at San Francisco Columbarium and Funeral Home on July 24, 2021 at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the San Francisco - Marin Food Bank.

George was born to Mabel and Paul Wilson in his grandparents’ home in Bondville, Illinois. He spent his early years in Southern Illinois before moving first to Visalia, California, then Yuba City, California where he graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1954. After graduation, George attended Yuba College, then U.C. Berkeley, where he received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, also becoming a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

After receiving his graduate degree, George worked at Boeing Airplane Company for two years, where he met his future wife, Avon Mary Johnstone. At Boeing, he worked on noise control and vibration isolation issues related to the B-52 aircraft, developing the design criteria of a future acoustics lab. He returned to UC Berkeley for his Ph.D., where he also instructed mechanical engineering, and developed a class still included in the curriculum entitled 173 Fundamentals of Acoustics. In addition to his doctoral thesis, he designed, specified and oversaw construction of two separate acoustics laboratories. Upon graduation, and unable to find employment in his area of expertise, George launched his own independent acoustical consulting firm. Dr. George Paul Wilson founded Wilson Ihrig & Associates in 1966, serving as president until his retirement in 2003. He consulted on all areas of noise and vibration control, and acoustic design. Under his leadership, Wilson Ihrig gained national and international prominence and