Scott “Bongo” William Starnes: “he loved to share the richness of his life’s experiences”

This section includes announcements of important events in our lives–births, graduations, engagements, marriages, and deaths. If you want to share an event with your community, please send a photo and a written piece to [email protected].

Scott “Bongo” William Starnes

In loving memory of Scott “Bongo” William Starnes, 53, who passed away on November 15th, 2023, from an unexpected massive pulmonary embolism.

Scott was born in San Diego, CA, and grew up riding horses, dirt biking, playing football, and surfing. He was raised by his Highway Patrol Sergeant father, Willie “Bill” Starnes, and spoke fondly when reminiscing about his father’s homestead with racehorses and a thriving pomegranate tree. Scott was always confident, creative, and innately rebellious with a love for punk rock and reggae.

Scott “Bongo” William Starnes

In his early twenties, he moved to Honeydew in Humboldt County, CA. This is where Scott found peace communing with nature, practicing aikido, and sharing ideas while living off-grid with friends. He learned about Buddhist, Hindu, and Rastafarian philosophies, whose teachings he carried with him throughout his life. He continued surfing and dirt biking, and his creativity flourished through drum making, carpentry, and gardening. Honeydew is where he met his first love, Lila Rose Segesman, and had his first daughter in 1992. He was proud that he helped deliver his daughter in a garden he helped grow. They had their own homestead and Scott learned how to hunt and dive for abalone along the Lost Coast. After separating, he bought his own property where he lived in a yurt and raised horses, pigs, chickens, llamas, and Alapaha bulldogs. He took pride in being a skilled gardener, and grew everything from fruit trees to cannabis, grapes, flowers, vegetables, and succulents. He also loved traveling, and was inspired by the art and culture he saw in Thailand, India, and Europe.

Scott was also a talented visual artist, inspired by his father’s realistic paintings. Drawing was the creative outlet he carried with him after eventually leaving Honeydew. He moved to Maui then to Southern California, where he met his partner, Alexandria, and had another daughter and son. He spent time in Yucca Valley, CA, where he took art classes at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree, CA, and found his love of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). He also gave talks at Narcotics Anonymous to share how BJJ helped him physically, mentally, and spiritually. Scott received his blue belt in BJJ in 2015 and took first place by submission when he competed. He was grateful for the wellbeing the sport brought him, and truly lived the BJJ concept of it being a metaphor for overcoming life’s challenges.

Scott moved to Angels Camp, CA, in 2016 with his partner and son, hoping to eventually move back to Humboldt County. While awaiting that opportunity, he shared things he learned during his time homesteading in Honeydew with his family and friends. His charismatic, engaging, and humorous personality made him a wonderful teacher. He found a deep contentment in teaching his son about things like gardening, cooking, foraging, and carpentry skills. He found a love for looking for quartz crystals and was known to list off names of plants and other facts about nature during walks with his family. His friends say that he seemed to know everything about everything, and it was clear he loved to share the richness of his life’s experiences. No matter what obstacles he faced on his karmic path, he always returned to a place of peace and love in his heart.

Scott is survived by his partner, Alexandria Samantha Robarbs, his three children, Morrain Ruby Bauer-Safonova, Samantha Sapphire Santa, and Storm Shiva Starnes. He is also survived by his sister, Sarah Shae Starnes, and his mother, Wendy Bridges.