14 lagunabeachindy . com DECEMBER 8 , 2023
OBITUARY :
Bob “ Huff ” Huffman
Bob and Chris Huffman , in 1980 , excited by the birth of Shaun MacGillivray . Photo courtesy of Barbara MacGillivray
BY GREG MACGILLIVRAY
Bob “ Huff ” Huffman , 88 , owner and witty proprietor of The Forest Market , now leased to the fantastic 230 Restaurant . Perhaps the funniest man to ever live in Laguna , Huff passed on to the quiet side this past week in beautiful Point Arena , Calif .
Known for his friendly Tuesday poker games in the back of the market , the best
OBITUARY :
John ‘ Greg ’ Seymour
John “ Greg ” Seymour passed away Oct . 18 , 2023 , after a lengthy battle with cancer . He was embraced with love to the very end , surrounded by his wife Willie , two sons , Scott and Justin and daughter-in-law Aubrey .
Greg was born March 4 , 1942 . The second of what would ultimately be a trio of boys for John and Dorothy Seymour , Greg was destined for a life of adventure . He spent his early years in Seal Beach , Calif ., before moving to a remote cabin in Stoddard ’ s Canyon at the base of the San Gabriel mountains at the age of five . It was here that his love of the outdoors , nature and all of its creatures began to flourish . He would spend hours exploring the canyon , its stream and waterfalls , often returning well after dark with some exotic sandwiches ever in town , and the drollest comebacks to any greeting , Huff was a true Laguna iconoclast . He supported the rights of the poor and fought for the wild canyons and the clean ocean with his membership in Village Laguna . He was a liberal in politics , a lover of all humans , and a caretaker of any kinetic thing – including lost golf balls at Ben
find treasure , a rock , fossil , raccoon or an occasional rattlesnake .
In the early 1950s , the family left the canyon and moved to West Covina where Greg would ultimately discover the two loves of his life , his wife Willie and the sea .
He and Willie began dating in 1955 and would often travel to coastal Orange County and spend hours exploring the beaches in Laguna and Dana Point or sitting on the bluff above what is now Monarch Bay . He began diving and spearfishing in the abundant waters offshore and fell in love with the ocean and the freedom it gave him . He and his future wife became determined to make the area their home .
They married in 1963 and , after graduating from Humboldt State in 1964 , made their dream of living on the coast a reality . Initially settling into San Clemente , Greg began what would ultimately become a 40-year passion , education , and , more specifically , teaching within the Capistrano Unified School District . He taught at Concordia , Ole Hanson and Moulton elementary schools but ultimately settled at R . H . Dana , where he spent over 25 years , ironically sitting above the very location where he and Willie had dreamed of building their lives .
Greg absolutely loved teaching , or more specifically , the students he taught .
Browns . He would have loved what Mark Christy has done with the Aliso Canyon that he treasured .
Huff began his wild Laguna ride with a bikini company called “ Strawberries ” in the 70s with his first wife , “ Pickles .” When she died from cancer suddenly , he bought The Forest Market in the late 70s with his second wife , Chris , and they transformed it into the town gathering spot , with healthy freshly squeezed fruit drinks , whole wheat sandwiches , and fair prices . Every employee downtown ate lunch there daily and grew healthier in the process . One day , when Huff had to attend a family event , I took over the cash register for lunch for only four hours and became a stuttering fool – what a demanding , stressful job . Huff and Chris must have had a special tolerance gene made for that task . They made the Market the highlight of our downtown .
Huff had thousands of friends , some attracted by his creative antics . He invented the fine art of streaking a party to make it even more spirited . He loved controversy and the absurd . On some July Fourths , he literally became an exploding naked attraction , holding lit spinning pin-wheels between his legs and sparklers in his hands . Yet he had no shortcomings . As his friend Mark Dawson has said : “ Huff had a kind heart . He always had positive and fun things to say to the people he encountered , things meant to lift a person ’ s spirit or boost their self-esteem . He had an unusual and special
He loved expanding young minds to the wonders of the world , teaching science and math for the majority of his career . If you ever had the opportunity to see one of his classrooms , you know these weren ’ t simply places to learn . They were portals to another world where his students could explore and create their own adventures . Often filled with relics and treasures found on the family ’ s extended summer vacations in Baja California or the Pacific Northwest . Arrowheads , fossils , shells , dolphin skulls and rocks and minerals and all types of living creatures , snakes , turtles , spiders and iguanas , etc . were just a few of the things you might find . These were truly living classrooms .
In 2004 , Greg retired from teaching , having been named Capistrano Unified Teacher of the Year twice . It was a bittersweet moment . The loss of giving up something he loved was quickly filled by spending countless hours back in the ocean diving , often with his grandsons , camping with Willie or pouring himself into his community , Three Arch Bay .
“ The Bay ” was his sanctuary , and he treated it as such . Often up before dawn , he would bring out the neighborhood trash cans , deliver neighbors papers and readily jump into any and all community projects . When the hedge in front of the community ’ s beloved gazebo grew too large and blocked the view of the beach , he repelled over the cliff with Willie on belay to cut it back , not once but twice . He loved Three Arch Bay , his fellow neighbors and sharing his love of the ocean with anyone with a curiosity for its treasures . Teaching more than one Three desire to lift people up . I can ’ t help but think how much better our world would be if we had more Huffs .”
His wife , Chris Fidler has called out affectionately : “ I am the lucky woman who fell in love with Huff . He introduced me to a life rich with good friends and a loving family . He had a heart of gold and the personality to make sure that everyone around him felt loved and special . We were a great team to host the Forest Market and embrace the community . Loving Huff has been one of the best experiences of my life .” In later years , Huff traveled with his dear , steadfast and caring friends , Lorelei and Tim Brooks , to live a quiet , beautiful life in glorious Point Arena , Calif . He ’ d tell me , “ It ’ s small and personal , like Laguna was in the 60s and 70s .”
Recently , Laguna Beach filmmaker Robin D . Williams traveled to Scotland with Huff : “ Huff enjoyed chatting with the locals , who all had a thick Scottish brogue , and it was fun to see him pretend to understand every word they spoke . He did not know it , but soon , he was picking up the Scottish accent , and unfortunately , I could no longer understand him .”
One of the smartest men I ’ ve ever met , Barbara and I give our Thanksgiving thanks to have known and enjoyed this true Lagunatic : Bob Huffman , one of the best humans to ever love Laguna .
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Arch Bay resident to snorkel , he eventually gained the nickname “ The Finder ” for his uncanny ability to find many an item lost somewhere beneath the waters of the cove and return it to the original owner . The ocean was his true home .
In his final months , Greg could still be found walking down the North Beach steps , dive gear in hand , no wetsuit , even in winter and a smile that spoke to the pure joy he anticipated as he slipped beneath the surface of the sea . Greg loved his friends , cherished his family and was the definition of life well lived . He left an indelible footprint on this planet and will be missed beyond measure .
Greg is survived by his wife of 60 years , Wilmira , his two sons Scott and Justin , their wives Aubrey and Terie and his four grandchildren , Landon , Sean , Logan and Ashton .
A memorial scholarship endowment fund is being established in Greg ’ s name through The Cal Poly Philanthropic Foundation . The scholarship will assist aspiring teachers who are completing their teaching credentials and bridge the gap as they support themselves through the unpaid student teaching process , the final step to becoming an educator .
The Seymour Family would be truly grateful if you would consider a donation to this scholarship in our father ’ s legacy . You can find more information and add your contact information to the interest list at www . gregseymourendowment . com
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