Elizabeth Reifel

Elizabeth Viola Reifel peacefully passed away on December 20 at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California.

Elizabeth was born in Ontario, California, on July 18, 1937, to Peter and Sena Miller. As the daughter of two Danish immigrants, Elizabeth’s upbringing instilled a lifelong belief in the unique promise of an inclusive American dream.

In 1956, she married Stanley Winton Reifel, with whom she raised two children, Lisa Reifel and Stanley Reifel Jr. In 1958, the family relocated to Carpinteria, CA, where Stanley Sr. operated his furniture design business, eventually working as an installation designer at UCSB and opening the Fairtree Gallery in New York City. While Stanley Jr. and Lisa were in school, and her husband worked, Elizabeth ran the household. She brought an artful eye to these duties—sewing beautiful dresses for Lisa, perfecting culinary delights, and tending to her garden.

Elizabeth began her life in retail in 1975 at Raku in downtown Santa Barbara. Inspired by her close childhood friend, Barbara Cheatley (of Barbara Cheatley Antiques), Elizabeth and Lisa opened the very first Lewis & Clark storefront on Elizabeth’s 44th birthday. Initially located in Victoria Court, the shop gained an immediate following, moving directly onto State Street in 1983 in a space owned by the Santa Barbara Art Museum. It was in this location that the first “loose-brick” floor was laid by Elizabeth and Lisa themselves.

The mother-daughter duo opened a second Lewis & Clark on Coast Village Road in 1988, alongside collaborator and friend Michelle Doetch. In 1998, the downtown shop moved to its current home in Santa Barbara’s iconic La Arcada Plaza. Lewis & Clark flourished in this new location, surrounded by other small stores, restaurants, and art galleries, in a historic arcade lovingly restored by the visionary Hugh Petersen.

Elizabeth’s creative vision, celebration of folk art, extensive knowledge of antiques, and entrepreneurial spirit have been central to Lewis & Clark’s 44 years in business. From the store’s beloved brick floor to its French faience bunnies to her many hand-drawn signs, Elizabeth’s aesthetic genius continues to inspire and delight thousands of visitors every year. Elizabeth’s loved ones are incredibly proud that her unique perspective and love of Santa Barbara persist in her family-run shop’s continued success.

In addition to her store, Elizabeth was also a passionate gardener. She poured immense energy into designing her garden alongside her dear friend and gardener Terry Wilby. She was also a dedicated member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where she found friendship and spiritual solace among a community of believers devoted to progressive ideals. Her beautiful home was always shared with at least one or two much-loved feline companions. The joys of pet ownership mattered greatly to her and brought true happiness to her daily routines.

Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Lisa Reifel, her three granddaughters, Maggie Clarke, Meriwether Clarke, and Zoe Reifel, as well as a wide extended family, including Rick Cornelius, Ralph Flores, David Rockey, Anne Stewart, the beloved Lewis & Clark staff, and many others.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to Showers for Blessings, United Farmworkers, or ASAP Cats—all organizations whose missions Elizabeth passionately believed in.