Lucian Schaafsma

Obituary of Lucian Schaafsma

Lucian Schaafsma, born December 14, 1955, passed away January 23, 2018. A memorial for Lucian will be held on March 31, 2018, at 1pm, at the Pacific Cultural Center, 1307 Seabright Avenue in Santa Cruz. All who knew Lucian and wish to celebrate his life are welcome to attend.

 

Lucian studied history and psychology at California State College, Stanislaus. After moving to Santa Cruz in the 1980s, he earned a certificate in drug and alcohol counseling. He served as a counselor and Outpatient Program Manager for Janus of Santa Cruz, an addiction treatment center. At Janus, Lucian was instrumental in developing a new therapy using neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback). He became an expert in the interaction of addiction with other conditions, particularly ADD and ADHD, and was especially passionate about working with at risk adolescents.  He also helped establish the first relapse prevention program at Janus.

 

Lucian began writing poetry and stories when he was very young and continued to write up until the last weeks of his life. He found ways to integrate storytelling and poetry in his work with clients and believed language could be a powerful therapeutic tool for those in recovery.  In his own words, "I listened to the way my clients spoke, the way they used words, the uniqueness of their voices as people–and I tried to help them hear themselves–their own beauty and strength and style."

 

Lucian played the harmonica and loved to jam with Santa Cruz street musicians, friends, and family. He co-wrote songs with his brother in-law Robert Anderson, two of which, Stop and Go and Follow The Dreamsilk, are available on Amazon digital music, under “Great Silver Bear,” in the album “The Silver Bear Sampler.” Two interviews of Lucian as well as videos of Lucian performing with his brother-in-law are also available for viewing on his nephew Nick Anderson's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0YV4t0J1A07Y2bT95rcfwg.

 

Lucian lived most of his adult life in Santa Cruz until his passing on January 23, 2018, in the company of his brother Paul and the cat he loved. He is survived by his brothers, Paul Schaafsma, Jan Schaafsma, and Hasan Schaafsma MacNeil, and his sister KarenSchaafsma Anderson; nieces Flora and Daniela MacNeil and Sandra Hansen; nephews Nick Anderson and Sjarif MacNeil; grand-nieces Luciana Gutierrez MacNeil and Raury MacNeil; and grand-nephews Bennie Gutierrez MacNeil and Izaiah and Hank Hansen.

 

Lucian will be remembered for his big heart and many loves, including music (all genres), books and reading, world history and mythology, art and photography, the redwoods and flowers, his family and his adopted home town of Santa Cruz. He considered himself a Buddhist and was also a member of Subud. He will be greatly missed.

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Saturday
31
March

Memorial Service

1:00 pm
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Pacific Cultural Center
1307 Seabright Avenue
Santa Cruz, California, United States
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