Obituary of Mustafa Sengezer

Mustafa Sengezer, also known as, "The Turk," rested his battle with cancer on November 17, 2014 with his loving family at his side. Our father, and to many a friend, was born on the Island of Biga off the Dardanell Straights between Greece & Turkey in 1928. He had a life-long love affair with the ocean and loved sailing, fishing and being a boat builder, but most of all he loved his family. He was famous for his storytelling about life as a boy in Istanbul, a sponge diver in the Black Sea, his tenure in the Turkish Calvary, and his service as a Merchant Marine. He lived in Santa Cruz for 50 years and worked for John Ingles Frozen Foods and also for the Santa Cruz Port District. Mustafa was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ruth Sengezer in 2000 and also by his oldest son Paul Mead in1995. He is survived by his children: Christopher Huseyin Sengezer, Susan Sengezer, Steven Michael Sengezer, Chris Tomm, and Julie Fatima Skromme; Grandchildren: Tamara Dudenhoeffer, Brandon Coulson, Aaron Coulson, Brandy Robertson, Ethan Coulson, Lane Coulson, Elishia Skromme and Ella Skromme, Bill Forkner, Zack Forkner, Great Grand Children: Jacob Mortensen, Carliegh Mortensen, Avery Forkner, Lilly Forkner, Travis Dudenhoffoer, Emma Robertson, Isaiah Coulson, Noah Robertson, Lucas Dudenhoeffer, Jac'kobi Coulson and Aubriegh Dudenhoeffer. A memorial service to celebrate Mustafa's life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, November 22nd at Benito Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga Street, Santa Cruz.