Debra Ann Costner

Debra Ann Costner passed away on Aug. 20, 2014, after a long battle against cancer.

Debra was born on Staten Island, New York, where she spent her childhood. She also lived in Ohio and attended college in Minnesota, then moved to the Bay Area, where she held positions as a CFO or CEO until she bought and ran Bay Area Businesswoman for several years. When advertising revenues dried up during the recession, she acquired licensing to become a financial consultant at AXA Advisors in San Francisco. As a respected mentor during these years she helped dozens of people develop their careers and build their lives.

But when the weekend arrived, Debra headed for the rivers. For several years, she led whitewater rafting trips with Friends of the River and took over raising funds to support the river, which more than doubled during her period of involvement.

She loved to travel, especially when she was behind the wheel. She and her partner of nine years, Jude, enjoyed several long trips in Mexico where Debra did all the driving! She loved her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and never missed their birthdays. Debra was a powerful woman in every arena of her life, and she will be missed by many.

She was predeceased by her parents, Allen Costner and Elizabeth Buckley Costner. Debra is survived by her partner, Jude Cameron; two sisters, Susan Costner and Lynda Crombie; a brother, Alan Costner; nieces, Shannon Gotelli, Lindsay Melo, Elizabeth Crombie Marsh, Melissa Crombie, Bayley and Kyle Costner; grandnieces and grandnephews, CJ, Gabriel, Alicia, Andrew and Tia; and her cat, Batik, who has shared her life for the past 14 years.