Linda Svendsen Obituary/Contra Costa Times

Linda Svendsen Photographer/Adventurer March 11, 1941 - April 23, 2007

Born in Manhattan to Bruno & Hedwig Gumpert and raised on "Linda's Farm" in Vineland, New Jersey and then moved to River Edge, N.J. She graduated from Music and Art High School in New York and from Parson's School of Design in 1961.

Headed out to San Francisco in 1961 with her then husband, Jim Seagrave, and became part of the burgeoning hippie scene raising three flower-headed daughters amidst concerts in the park, the smell of patchouli and sound of foghorns in the bay.

Became a photographer in 1975 after moving to Concord and began her career by covering high school football games, drive-in movie ads and weddings. As her expertise increased, she began photographing notecards, calendars, puzzles and eventually books. Growing in popularity, she ended up with seventeen books in all plus a multitude of photographs in various publications and magazines. She traveled the world from Europe to Eurasia, from Easter Island to Australia, New Guinea to New Zealand, Chile to China, through the seas of the Antarctic and the sands of Mongolia. She photographed people, buildings, ways of life,scuba-dived with dolphins, sharks and whales and hung out of helicopters with her camera around her neck.

She fit approximately three-and-a-half lifetimes into this one and even when she was struck with ovarian cancer a year ago, she kept on going - working, traveling and photographing. Then, after two months of being "grounded", the beautiful one decided it was time to leave those legs which could no longer support her or her camera and strike out on another adventure.

Her daughters, Suzanne Houchin, Robin Beck and Renee Wagner (known as the "Seagrave Sisters") and their husbands, Craig, Tom and Scott will be missing her very much; as will her long-time partner and love, Jeff Weathers; and her brother and sister-in-law, Mel & Shirley Gumpert; nephew, Jeff Gumpert; cousin, Helen Crohn and her family; cousins, Denise and Ruth; and grandchildren, Jennifer, Emily, Justin, Shane, Katie, Ryan, Allison and Nolan. Her multitude of wonderful friends in the Bay Area and from all corners of the globe will dearly miss her quiet presence.

Her return to our family is eagerly awaited and we know that when we see that certain sparkle in the eye and that unmistakable wanderlust in the soul, that our dear Linda will have joined us again.

Some of her works can be seen at lindasvendsen.com.

Expressions of concern, friendship, affection and caring are being received at: The Wagner Family, 2212 Ridgepointe Court, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The World Wildlife Fund.