Nina Faye Podlesny

Nina Faye Podlesny was born to Leonard Albert Watson and Ada Watson, (née Ada Estelle Crumbly) on May 4, 1928 in Round Mountain, Alabama. The family, including her two sisters, and her brother, moved to Wilson, Texas, when Faye was a young girl.

She attended Texas Tech University and earned a B.A. in business. Faye met Paul McCleister when he was stationed in Texas during his army days. They married, and moved to Anaheim, California, in 1947. She worked in a business office while she earned a teaching credential, and began teaching second-grade. During this period she gave birth to Steven in 1948, and Deborah in 1949.Faye and family moved to Santa Barbara in 1957, where she continued to teach at Washington Elementary School for 23 years.

After her divorce from Paul, Faye began playing golf, and met Robert F. Podlesny (Fritz) on the golf course. They married in 1966. They were members of the La Cumbre Country Club and enjoyed many years of golfing and bridge playing. They also traveled extensively. In 1980, Faye left teaching to begin a career in real estate, working for a number of years for the firm Pitt & Bachmann.

At the age of 87, Faye had a massive stroke, and died 9 days later on July 26th 2015, at Serenity house, surrounded by her family.

Faye was a caring, generous, supportive wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. One could count on her sharp intellect and quick wit to help you through the bumps in life. Faye is survived by her husband Fritz, son Steven McCleister (wife Elna Saito), granddaughters Sarah and Emily, her daughter Deborah McCleister (spouse Lydia Emard), and by her two sisters Mary Suther and Dorothy McCarty, in Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Serenity House on 930 Miramonte St. in Santa Barbara.