David William Hardy

Dave is smiling down on us with a twinkle in his eyes and a Hawaiian shirt on his back. David William Hardy, 79, of Santa Barbara, CA, passed away December 6, 2025. Dave was born March 23, 1946, in Lynwood, CA, to Cleo Patricia Channel of Kansas and Detmer Walter Hardy of Arkansas.

Dave graduated from San Gabriel High School in 1964, where he excelled in academics and athletics. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara earning a mechanical engineering degree. While at UCSB he played football and rugby for the Gauchos and was a distinguished member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Phi Alpha. In the spring of 1975, a friend from grammar school, Lee Rice, set Dave up on a blind date with Sue Liddy. The two fell in love and were married in the summer of 1976. Sue and Dave started a family and moved from Laguna Niguel to Santa Barbara in 1978.

Dave’s passion for the restaurant business started in the mid-60s, when he began working with Bud Snickles at the Northwoods Inn in San Gabriel. While at UCSB he worked as a manager and bartender at Chuck’s Steakhouse in Santa Barbara. In 1978, he had the opportunity to purchase Jasper’s Saloon in Goleta from Larry Stone, his boss at Chuck’s and later business partner at Beachside. In 1985, Dave became the operating partner/owner of Beachside Bar-Café, which was in business for 36 years, before having to close its doors during the Covid pandemic. Jasper’s and Beachside were much more than just food and drink, they created a community for both the customers and staff. And that is what was truly important.

What Dave cherished the most was spending time with family and friends, watching his daughter dance in the Nutcracker, attending and coaching his son’s sporting events, and eating Shalhoob jerky while watching the Rams beat the 49ers.

Dave had a huge heart, a hunger for knowledge and growth, quick wit, a passion for tinkering, and a tremendous sense of humor. He was always there to help someone in need, he was a great listener, and could always be counted on.

Dave is survived by his children, Hilary Olivera and Det Hardy; grandchildren, Lily, Luca, and Cora Olivera and Celia and Marco Hardy; sister, Carolyn Skendarian; nieces and nephews, Marcy McKenna, Cleo Digiloromo, Marcus Skendarian, and David and Peter Trepp; and many very close and long-time friends.

Preceding Dave in death are his parents, Patricia and Detmer Hardy; sister, Kathleen Trepp; and brother, Brad Hardy. A Celebration of Life will be held at Goleta Beach Park (Picnic Area A) on Saturday, March 21, at 3 pm. This will be a casual gathering where we will share food, drink, and memories of Dave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the United Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara County, PO Box 1485, Santa Barbara, CA 93102.