Obituary of Peter Bruce Hubback

Peter Hubback passed away July 1st surrounded by his loving family after a long fight with cancer. He was a loving husband and the most wonderful father. Next time you stroll through Capitola Village or canoe up Soquel Creek, please give a silent "thank you" to Peter Hubback, whether you knew him personally or not. Those of you new to the area may take for granted features protected or innovated by Peter, a second-generation Capitolan. The community's quality of life mattered to Peter. Longtime locals call the western-entrance overlook of Capitola Village "The Hubback View." Peter received an award from a thankful residents' association when he single-handedly stopped construction of a 4-foot solid retaining wall on Cliff Drive coming into the Village, a project that would have forever lost the view of the creek, wharf, beach, and Village from its western entrance. His advocacy for a greener, cleaner Village eventually produced the rows of palm trees and engraved bricks in Capitola Village. Peter served as a Board Member of the Capitola Village & Wharf Business Improvement Association - one of the organization's earliest supporters. He also served as an officer of the Capitola Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Village Master Plan Advisory Committee, a Begonia Festival organizer, and a member of various City committees such as the City Manager Search Committee and the Soquel Creek Task Force and was voted "Man of the Year". Peter's advocacy for Soquel Creek crossed political boundaries. Peter was known as a fierce fiscal conservative, small business proponent and watchdog of City budgets. He was also a founding member of WAVE (Working to Advance the Village Environment), an environmental sprawl-busting organization that fought an oversized development proposal for the Nob Hill Center and won a conservation easement to the center of Soquel Creek in perpetuity for the people of Capitola. These seemingly opposite endeavors were not unusual for Peter Hubback. Jokingly called "the parking guru," Peter remembered every detail of all attempts to solve local traffic circulation problems. If anyone wanted old aerial photo of Soquel Creek or a photo of a long-lost building, Peter Hubback was the man to ask. Peter never feared immersion in local politics: Honor and integrity first, responsibility, and old-fashioned community spirit. He mentored community activists and helped several City Council and Soquel Creek Water District candidates gain the confidence to run on pro-rail, environmental-protection tickets in the face of other better-funded efforts. Although Peter owned several buildings in Capitola and could have used his influence to "railroad" his own agenda, people on both sides of any issue came away respecting that Peter Hubback always had the betterment of Capitola at heart above his own personal interest. Peter's personal life was not untouched by tragedy. His compassion and quiet generosity were behind the turn-around of some struggling local families and small businesses. He is survived by his wife, Ashley, sons Clinton and Matthew, Matthew's fianc Amber Bailey, and two granddaughters Zoe and Olivia. Funeral services will be held at the Circle Church of Santa Cruz on Tuesday, July 6th at 11:00 a.m. Followed by a brief graveside service at the Soquel Cemetery. Friends and family are invited up to the house after the services for a light lunch. Capitola Village has lost a prominent historian, an advocate, and a big piece of our heart and collective conscience. Peter Hubback will be missed. Arrangements are under the direction of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel. Please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to share your thoughts with the family and sign the online guest book.