Laura Salvi Morrison

Laura Salvi Morrison passed away peacefully on July 1, 2022. Born in Rome, Italy, she had been a resident of Santa Barbara for over 50 years.

Laura traveled to Redwood City, California as an exchange student in 1956 where she met Darryl Morrison and they kept in touch after she returned home. Laura and Darryl were married in Rome, Italy in 1962 and shared a wonderful life in Santa Barbara with three daughters.

Laura was a well-loved Italian and French teacher. She had skills adaptable for all ages, teaching at UCSB and SBCC as well as children of families in the Italian Boot Club. She taught in the SBCC Adult Education program until the age of 75 and maintained a weekly Italian conversation group at Via Maestra until 2018.

Laura’s language ability was truly phenomenal. Trilingual by age seven in Italian, French, and Danish, she also mastered English, Swedish, and Spanish in addition to learning Latin and Greek in school. She served as a translator for the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy and the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, CA.

Laura often volunteered locally as a translator. She helped Lotusland translate letters in Ganna Walska’s collection, as well as spent time at the Mission archives where her degree from the Vatican Library School also came in useful.

Laura is survived by her three daughters, Maia, Dawn, and Ashley, as well as their spouses and children. Laura was preceded in death by her husband Darryl. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in her memory to the Santa Barbara Humane Society, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, or the Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum & Library.