In Loving Memory of Barney BrantinghamSanta Barbara’s Storyteller and Beloved Journalist
It is with profound respect and heartfelt sadness that the Santa Barbara community mourns the passing of Barney Brantingham, who died peacefully at the age of 93. A legendary journalist and treasured civic voice, Barney spent decades chronicling the rhythms of Santa Barbara life—its characters, its complexities, and its charm—through his iconic “Off the Beat” columns.
Barney’s passing marks the end of an era for local journalism. To know Santa Barbara through the eyes of Barney Brantingham was to see it with clarity, warmth, and curiosity. His words didn’t just tell stories—they kept the city connected, weaving the fabric of a community through observations both ordinary and profound.
The Voice of a City
Barney Brantingham’s career spanned more than half a century, first at the Santa Barbara News-Press, and later as a beloved columnist at The Independent. Through his widely read column, “Off the Beat,” Barney wrote about the city the way one might write a letter to a dear friend—thoughtfully, with insight, humor, and a touch of mischief.
His topics ranged from local politics to art, travel, and daily life. He wasn’t afraid to call things as he saw them, but his criticisms always came from a place of care. In an ever-changing media landscape, Barney remained a constant—a comforting, familiar voice in the pages of the paper, week after week.
A Life Rich in Curiosity and Connection
Barney was not just a journalist; he was a community institution. His warm demeanor, approachable nature, and genuine curiosity about people made him a fixture at events, city meetings, restaurants, and bookstores—anywhere there was a story to find.
To meet Barney was to be remembered by him. He had a knack for turning brief conversations into full portraits of people’s lives. He believed that everyone had a story worth telling, and he had the rare gift of knowing how to tell it right.
Colleagues, readers, and friends alike recall his ever-present notebook, his steady typewriter or keyboard, and his light chuckle that always preceded a sharp observation or witty line.
Tributes to a Santa Barbara Icon
Tributes have poured in from every corner of Santa Barbara and beyond—from longtime readers who grew up with his columns, to local leaders who respected his fairness, to fellow journalists who saw in him the gold standard of what community reporting should be.
One colleague remarked:
“Barney didn’t just report on Santa Barbara—he captured its soul. He held up a mirror and made us see our community, and ourselves, a little more clearly.”
Another friend shared:
“He had the mind of a reporter, the heart of a poet, and the patience of a good neighbor. He’ll never be replaced.”
A Legacy Etched in Ink and Memory
Though Barney is no longer walking the streets of Santa Barbara with a notebook in hand, his spirit lives on in the archives of his work and in the hearts of those who read him. His columns remain a time capsule of a changing city and a master class in thoughtful journalism.
He is survived by family, friends, colleagues, and a readership that spanned generations. Plans are underway for a public celebration of life in the coming weeks, where the community will have the chance to honor his contributions and share stories of the man who chronicled so many of theirs.
Final Words for a Final Column
Barney Brantingham gave Santa Barbara a voice when it needed one, and a storyteller when it didn’t know it had a story to tell. His passing is a monumental loss, but his legacy is firmly rooted in the city he so deeply loved.
Rest easy, Barney. Thank you for telling our story—and for being a part of it.