Dear friends,

We are heartbroken to share that Dennis Johnston tragically lost his life in a devastating fire in August of 2023. Dennis was on a solo camping trip in the Northwest, at the Oregon/California border, when the area was besieged with fires. Dennis was attempting to escape the area when he was tragically killed. This sudden and unimaginable loss has left his loving wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Dailey, in a state of deep grief and uncertainty.

Dennis was a loving husband, dedicated worker, cherished community member, and his loss is felt deeply by everyone who knew him. He had a knack to connect with folks living on the streets to help them get mental health services if they wanted it. He spent almost 40 years providing services in various positions, was the original Downtown Outreach person for Santa Cruz County Mental Health in the city of Santa Cruz for almost 15 years, making connections with both the folks on the streets as well as the business community. He left Santa Cruz and worked for the VA helping veterans in New York State and then in California, connecting them to much needed services. He later returned and worked for Monterey County Mental Health as their mental health jail services worker. After approximately 12 years, he left there and worked for Kaiser for another 10 years. Dennis finally retired, living life with his long-time love, wife and companion, Liz. Liz and Dennis would go on trips together, traveling around the county seeing the sites, friends and family, including their son Daniel who is now a DA in Santa Clara County.

In the wake of this tragedy, Liz is facing not only emotional pain but also the overwhelming challenge of rebuilding her life without her beloved husband.

Dennis had a pension with CalPERS, and unfortunately due to a paperwork glitch Liz has been denied access to these funds. For Liz, time has run out for her here on the Central Coast. The cost of living here, as everyone knows that has lived here, is unsustainable. Without the pension, her resources are disseminated. To help Liz move forward, we are raising funds to assist her in relocating to Florida, where she has a family home. The funds will be used for:

- Moving expenses

- Initial living costs in Florida

- Any other immediate needs to help her settle and start anew

We understand that times are tough for many, but any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference. Your generosity will help Liz find a sense of stability and peace as she navigates this heartbreaking transition.

Thank you for your kindness, support, and prayers.

With gratitude,

Niko Takoaka, Shannon Holmes and Carl Graue