Sun 14 Jun 2009
West Marin Citizen advertising manager hurt in crash; her popular dog Sebastian dies
Posted by DavidMitchell under Dave Mitchell, General News, Inverness, Personal, Photography
[8] Comments
The advertising manager of The West Marin Citizen, Linda Petersen, 61, of Inverness, suffered major injuries last night around midnight when her car hit a utility pole just west of Motel Inverness.
Her tiny Havanese dog Sebastian was killed in the crash, causing much sadness around Point Reyes Station.
Linda took him everywhere she went, and when The Citizen opened its office in Point Reyes Station more than a year ago, Sebastian soon became a much-beloved dog about town.
A gentle animal with long, silky hair and almost sad eyes, Sebastian charmed most people. Adults, as well as children, regularly stopped by The Citizen office just to see him.
As it happened, I had taken care of Sebastian all afternoon and evening yesterday while Linda helped with a caterer’s event in Stinson Beach.
On her way home to Inverness, Linda stopped by my cabin about 11:30 p.m. to pick up Sebastian but didn’t stick around long, explaining that she was sleepy and needed to get to bed. Unfortunately, her concern proved to be all too valid.
Sebastian among my daffodils.
Just after she drove through Inverness Park, she fell asleep at the wheel, ran off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, and hit a utility pole. A sheriff’s deputy noted that although the car’s front end was crushed, the utility pole received virtually no damage.
Photographer Jasper Sanidad caught Linda’s and Sebastian’s affection for each other being echoed by a couple behind them in the garden of Café Reyes.
Paramedics transported Linda to Marin General Hospital, where she underwent surgery today for multiple broken bones and a collapsed lung.
Linda’s daughter Saskia van der Wal places roses on a small cairn above Sebastian’s grave.
This afternoon, Linda’s daughter Saskia and I picked up Sebastian’s body at the Marin Humane Society, where Animal Control had taken him. Returning to Point Reyes Station from Novato, we stopped near Nicasio Reservoir’s dam where a roadsign warns of falling rocks and gathered a trunk-full of rocks. She and I then buried Sebastian under a persimmon tree in my front yard and used the rocks to erect a cairn over his grave.
The mound of rocks is intended to serve both as a memorial to Sebastian and as a barrier to critters that might want to dig him up.
Linda was my houseguest for a year in 2007-08, and she and I have remained close friends.
I’m still in shock over what has happened to her, but I’m confident her spirit will be what saves her. When I talked with Linda at Marin General today, she was determined to get through this ordeal and resume her normal life.
As for Sebastian, during the year he and Linda lived in my cabin, we became buddies. (In this photo by Linda, I’m sheltering him from a cold wind.) When Linda was away, Sebastian slept beside me on my bed at night. In recent months I had looked after him several afternoons a week.
However, at 16 Sebastian was virtually deaf, legally blind, and (for the last few months) hobbled by an untreatable tumor on a rear leg. He didn’t have that much longer to live, but I still haven’t come to terms with the finality of his death. I probably won’t for some time.
As an old dog, Sebastian was too blind to notice the deer close behind him, and the doe quickly realized he was no threat.
Sebastian came from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Linda lived for more than 20 years. Saskia had found him running in the streets of a working-class neighborhood, filthy, and eating garbage.
He nonetheless was such a sweet dog that Saskia tracked down his owners and asked if she could have him. Embarrassed by his condition, they gave him to her. In short, even as a young dog Sebastian was so good-natured he saved himself from a street dog’s life and enjoyed 11 good years instead. He was that charming.
Again, we are so shocked & saddened by this news. Please pass along to Linda our best wishes for her recovery; from what you said, it will be some time before she’s back on her feet, but at least it’s no longer life-threatening. I guess this serves as a reminder to us that the most dangerous activity we indulge in every day is getting behind the wheel of a car; the routineness of it numbs us to the dangers lurking.
Sebastian was a good & gentle dog, one that brought you much love and enjoyment during the time you spent together. The cairn you constructed for him seems a fitting tribute, and one that honors the amount of caring you had for the cute little guy.
Dave,
So sad… We’ll miss Sebastian and his fuzzy little face. You were a good friend and caretaker to him and he was lucky to have had you in his life.
And please let us know if there is anything we can do for Linda.
love and hugs and so much more
My Dearest Dave, I am just so heart broken I can hardly write, As you know, you had visited me, Friday, and you said “Well,I’ve got to get going because I am watching *Sebastian*”. I am so sorry for your loss as well as Linda Petersen’s. I was with you and Seeva when together we met Linda for the first time. You being my friend, we befriended Linda, as she lived with you.
She than became the rock of *The Citizen*, and put her heart into our community. She helped me so much through my Hip Operation, as she’d had one, and so she answered a lot of my questions, before and after. She was so helpful. I delivered The Citizen every Thursday, starting with the 2nd issue, so I saw her every Thursday, till I could no longer do the job. My partner Terry Gray took it over. Linda Always asked Terry how I was, and would tell him to tell me hello. About 2 weeks ago, I walked into the office, for the first time since my hip surgery, and I saw her Big smile. She came out from behind the counter, telling me, how tall I was and how happy she was for me, and hugged me.
I want to say that Linda, only being here a couple years, has done so much for the community. We all love her and loved Sebastian too. What can I say? I am at a loss. I am crying for her and the loss of our little, sweet Sebastian.
My daughter Seeva sends you her love and will be home by Thursday, and said she will stop at your house on the way here. Dave, please let Linda know, me, Terry, and Seeva love her, and if there is ANYTHING we can do, please let us know. We love you too! You did an absolutely beautiful memorial, and this blog is Very special.
Love You, No Matter What, Your Friends Linda Sturdivant, Terry, and Seeva
So sorry to hear these sad news. Sebastian was such a sweet little dog, and I loved your pictures of him. Our best to you and to Linda, wishing her a speedy recovery.
Sarah & Mark
Thank you Dave for your eulogy for Sebastian and your details of the night of Linda’s accident. I am her first cousin living in NY and while Saskia’s emails have given us the important medical status, your blog gave me some insight into Linda’s days in Point Reyes. With a continent between us we haven’t been able to visit in person so your pics are much appreciated. All the best, Lisa
My condolences to Linda and you for your loss of Sebastian. I wish Linda a speedy recovery and hope the effects of the crash are short lived.
Keith Mathews
Thank you very much for this, David. I only knew Linda and Sebastian through the Citizen office, and heard about the terrible accident through Linda’s housemate. Your lovely memorial to Sebastian and the news of Linda’s determination to return to life is much appreciated – and I’m delighted to have discovered your sagely blog!
Warmly,
Marc Matheson
Hi Dave,
We haven’t met (yet). I am one of Linda’s Puerto Rico friends who just relocated to the Bay Area. I first met Sebastian when Saskia brought him home. He looked like Marty Feldman back then and would shove aside Linda’s other, larger dog, Milo, to be petted and admired. He lost his exopthalmia somehow (probably good diet) and wormed his way into all our hearts. I am in shock over this turn of events. Linda’s spirit is indomitable but she will need all of us reminding her of that as she undergoes a long recovery. Her Puerto Rico friends, who love her dearly, are so happy that she has found a warm and caring community in Marin County.