Diane enjoying flowers at the 2007 Stewards Membership Meeting
Remembering Diane Cosgrove Barth
The following are tributes compiled by some who remember Diane Cosgrove Barth fondly. Per the coroner’s report, Diane passed away from natural causes on April 27, 2023. A celebration of her life will take place in the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Group Picnic Area on August 26th from 3-6 pm. All are welcome. It’s a potluck. BYOB with live jazz music and please bring pictures and stories to share.
Diane is survived by her dog Dexter, nieces Lori Navarro and Tasha Jabor, cousins Ginger Bonnar and Tati Argue, step-daughters Kimberly Peterson and Kendall Avalos and many dear friends.
The family has requested that donations in memory of Diane and Benny Barth go to Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods at https://stewardscr.org/donations/
From left to right, Diane, Michele Luna and Kathie Lowrey at the 2006 Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods Volunteer Celebration.
Remembering Diane
By Michele Luna, Executive Director Emeritus
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
Diane Barth is remembered as a woman of many talents who loved living in the Russian River area. She loved kayaking the river and relished the area’s rich cultural and natural history.
Diane started volunteering with Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods (Stewards) in the 1990s. She joined the Pond Farm Interest Group (PFIG) along with volunteer Russ Whitman and State Park Maintenance worker, Laura Parent. At that time, the group was collecting archival materials about Marguerite Wildenhain, master potter trained at the Bauhaus in Germany and founder of Pond Farm Pottery in Austin Creek State Recreation Area.
Diane worked for Stewards from 2/16/2005-7/14/2009 as the organization’s Administrative Assistant. Diane’s long-time history and her dedication to her work at Stewards was greatly appreciated and benefited the organization immensely.
After she retired, she became a caregiver for her husband Benny Barth, well known jazz drummer. After Benny’s passing, she began volunteering again with Stewards and especially enjoyed her time with the Seabird Monitoring Program. Watching, counting and documenting disturbances of cormorants, common murre, gulls, oyster catchers on the Sonoma Coast is an activity that excited Diane and the volunteers she enjoyed working with.
Diane Cosgrove Barth, the Quiet Catalyst
By Kathie Lowrey, Punta Gorda, Florida
When I met Diane in 1987 at the Bodega Marine Lab, she was wrangling visiting Symposium professors, dubbed by her as “the Docs.” Eyes twinkling and with calm competence, she bullied them into meeting her publication submittal deadline, despite their charming, and sometimes outrageous, excuses. That day was the beginning of a lifelong friendship as she shared her love for the Sonoma Coast and lower Russian River with me. That day also set the tone for the quiet determination that I came to admire in Diane—the kind that, for example, eventually led to a flatbed truckload of jazz musicians celebrating her marriage with Benny Barth in Armstrong Redwoods, despite all the bureaucratic naysaying!
Diane introduced me to the gift of kayaking, and she taught me to exhale as we left the shore, to relax into the experience of liberation only available when you leave land. She loved to watch the seals and reveled when they came close to investigate us. We shared so many tranquil afternoons on the River that sometimes turned into feats of endurance when the wind and the water decided to test our determination to get home, but usually ended with a picnic feast. Even after they moved to the house on the River, Diane stored three kayaks under my house at the mouth—one for her, one for me, and one for my brother. And I must say, she brightened things up every time she appeared when he was home scowling over some project. Diane also invited me into the world of jazz artists that she shared with Benny and into the world of community theater that she and her cousin loved. I was welcomed at intimate soirees with warm greetings, good vibes, and delicious potlucks that accompanied some amazing impromptu musical riffs and theatrical antics. Diane could be the ultimate social butterfly!!! A final favorite memory is of the day she decided I should plant irises at the beach. She and Benny lived on the hill above the Catholic Church overlooking Armstrong Redwoods Road at the time. It was late summer so there were no flowers in sight, but she got out a shovel, rooted around, handed me a bunch of brown bulbs, and demanded that I plant them in my yard. I did as she instructed! The next spring, majestic, snow-white, purple-throated flowers appeared and not only reappeared every spring, but also got divided many times and planted all over Jenner. We last talked in March when she invited me to stay with her during an October family visit to California. I was so looking forward to kayaking with her again and maybe picnicking in the redwoods or at the beach. Well, that isn’t happening right now, but I’m sure that I’ll find my friend somewhere, bobbing tranquilly and smiling at a sparkling sun. For now, I send my love to all who celebrate my favorite “quiet catalyst,” Diane Cosgrove Barth. Be in peace and kindness.
Benny and Diane's wedding, summer of 1992, with officiant, Bob Jones.
Diane Barth
By Bob Jones, Long-time friend
In addition to her deep associations with those who love and help preserve the river and the coast, Diane was a maven of wonderful musical get-togethers. She regularly invited many of us to her home on the banks of the Russian River that she shared with her husband Benny, the important jazz drummer from Indianapolis. He started his long career with the highly regarded Mastersounds and played the first Monterey Jazz Festival and the fiftieth Monterey Jazz Festival as well. In between he played in all the great jazz clubs of the world. Long before she met Benny, Diane was totally into this music and its practitioners. So it came to be that, time and again, she bid us gather at the Barth’s Studio B in Northwood for music of the highest order played by the best bay area jazzmen and women. As the music played we enjoyed elegant food and drink, all at Diane’s easy going instigation. Those were glorious afternoons and evenings of friendship and good vibes. When Diane married Benny in Armstrong Woods, a sixteen-piece jazz big band played gorgeously, the notes soaring into the trees and coming down to settle upon us. It was all so fitting for the occasion. Diane cared about her friends the way she cared about the forest and the river and the trees—wholeheartedly. Many of us will miss those rich gatherings she brought together right up to the end of her life. She was a guiding light and important contributor to my 75th and 80th birthday parties, the 75th in Armstrong Woods, the 80th on the banks of the Russian River. With great music in those marvelous settings, these were among the rare and beautiful moments she created out of her expansive heart. I am grateful to have been present for so many of them.
Diane Barth
By Ruby Herrick
Diane Barth was a knowledgeable link to the world of Jazz and a good friend. She had extensive knowledge and experience with the Jazz scene and it’s famous players. Her husband Benny was a Jazz drummer who met and played with many musicians. Diane and I met and worked together at Stewards. We became friends after we both retired and had time to spend together. After my husband and I moved from Sonoma County I often drove over to her place to spend weekends. We kayaked the Russian River, made Redwood cone wreaths, listened to and talked about, what else, Jazz! I often asked her about musicians and the Jazz scene. Once I mentioned that John and I went to a Dave Brubeck concert. She was acquainted with him and commented, “Oh Dave, what a princely man.” Just that small insight was so fascinating. She was part of my life in Sonoma County and I will miss her. Her death was shocking to me and unexpected, but she didn’t experience a lingering passage, which was a blessing. When friends or family die it feels to me, like a hole in my heart has opened. Now I often think that those loved ones who have gone on before us will help fill that hole in our heart. I cherish the memories of being on the river and spending time with Diane.
A beautiful day to kayak.
Group photo after the kayak trip with Stewards friends: Left to Right – Ruby Herrick, Yvonne Kenner, Joyce Bacci, Linda Rath, Roz Hendy, Michelle Sokal, Carol Farnes, Clara Else, Laura Parent. Photo taken by Michele Luna.
At the Bodega Seafood Art and Wine Festival in 2008
