By Mary Louise Days
The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) community has lost a longtime volunteer, board member and friend. Donald G. Sharpe was a man of many talents and interests. In 2015, he was recognized by SBTHP as its recipient of the Pearl Chase Historic Preservation and Conservation Award because of his contributions to many of our projects, and to the community.
Don received his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering in 1960 from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. A prominent local architect, he was licensed in California in 1965, and began practicing in Santa Barbara in 1967. Don contributed widely to the built environment of Santa Barbara. In 1970, he commenced partnering with other prominent local architects or worked in his own firm as a sole practitioner. For a time, his partners were architects William Mahan and Henry Lenny.
His community service included thirteen years on the City of Santa Barbara’s Architectural Board of Review and another sixteen years on the City of Santa Barbara Historic District Landmarks Commission. For several years he was board chair of the Santa Barbara Conservancy, and he served on its committee which produced the 2016 book Santa Barbara: A Guide to El Pueblo Viejo. Don’s additional civic involvement included the Montecito Association Board of Directors, Montecito Association Architectural Review Committee, and the Pine Mountain Club Environmental Control Committee.
A devoted family man, Don also played the tuba in the Santa Barbara City College Concert Band. One of his hobbies was enjoying ownership of a few vintage and unusual automobiles. He carried out restoration work on his business properties and was interested in efforts toward good community planning and protection of Santa Barbara’s character.
Don Sharpe was elected to the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation in 2007 and he retired in January 2019. He served on several board committees including Historic Resources, El Paseo Façade Easement, Property Management, and Restoration. He chaired both the Restoration and El Paseo committees. He devoted a considerable amount of his time advising SBTHP on its Alhecama Theatre restoration and its plans for the Presidio’s second defense wall reconstruction and paseo design. Don generously consulted on our other property matters, as well. These contributions to the organization’s preservation projects went beyond his loyal committee service.
Prior to the acquisition of the Santa Ines Mission Mills property by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation in 1996, Donald Sharpe provided architectural services to the then-owners, Ellen and Harry Knill, for restoration work on the mill buildings. Don also sourced the salvaged lumber used for the roof of each building.
Don passed away on February 10, 2024, in his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was surrounded with love by his wife Kay and his daughters Cindy, Whitney and Meagan. The SBTHP community is forever grateful for Don’s countless contributions, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Sharpe family.
Mary Louise Days is a past president of SBTHP’s Board of Directors and currently serves as editor of SBTHP’s publication, La Campana.