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Coby Van Staaveren

A celebration honoring the life of Coby Van Staaveren will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Sonoma. A reception will follow immediately at Hanna Boys Center.

Born Jacob Robert Van Staaveren on Dec. 16, 1989, to Don and Margo Van Staaveren, Coby would have begun his final year at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he was majoring in physics. He graduated from Justin-Siena High School, in Napa, in 2008 and attended Dunbar Elementary School and Altimira Middle School, both in Sonoma Valley. He was 22 when his life ended suddenly on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, in San Luis Obispo as a result of a tragic accident.

Coby was a gentle soul with a ready smile. He had a compelling curiosity about science and nature. A hike on Sonoma Mountain with his dog, Shaka, or a good surf session described the perfect day for Coby. He enjoyed drawing pencil sketches of the outdoors.

Coby’s parents and his younger sister, Leiska, are longtime Sonoma Valley residents. In addition to his paternal grandfather, with whom he shared a birthday, Coby is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Coby’s name may be sent to The Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 or to California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118.

 St. Andrew Presbyterian Church is located at 16290 Arnold Drive, and Hanna Boys Center is located at 17000 Arnold Drive, both in Sonoma.