Carole Frances Piceno
Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and best friend passed away in her sleep on May 1, 2024, with her husband of 46 years at her side.
Carole was born in Chicago, Illinois to her parents Frank and Hildy Chapman. When Carole was ten years old, the family moved to Sherman Oaks, California, Carole attended North Hollywood High there and, after graduation in 1960, moved to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB. She later earned a Bachelors Degree in Human Relations from Golden Gate University.
Carole started her 27 year career in law enforcement in 1969 by joining the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. Carole had several assignments with the Sheriffs Department including being the first female Deputy Sheriff assigned to patrol in the Department’s history.
Another assignment while with the Sheriffs Department that she was proud of was her participation in the Department’s first Rape Awareness Project.
In 1976, Carole transferred to the County District Attorney’s Office as a Criminal Investigator. She was initially a part of a Felony Trial Team while also dealing with domestic violence cases.
While working in those positions, Carole created the Tri-County Economic Crime Council and, with her partner Bob Cutting, created a 40 hour course on the investigation of White Collar Crime for the State of California Peace Officers Safety and Training.
During this same period Carole served as a Law Enforcement Advisor to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) Family Violence Project. Because of her involvement, Carole was requested to go to Washington D.C. to speak before a Senate sub-committee and explain why law enforcement should become more involved in family violence issues.
In addition to her professional work, Carole had been actively involved in the community as a Volunteer Mediator with the Community Mediation Program, as President and Vice Chair of the Santa Barbara Woman’s Political Committee, as a member of the Santa Barbara County Human Relations Commission, the County Civil Service Commission, the Santa Barbara Commission for Women, and Soroptimist International, and as a member of the Boards of Directors of the Tres Condados Girl Scouts Council, the Shelter Services for Women, and the Rapes Crisis Center.
In 1997, after retiring from law enforcement, Carole and Her husband started a private investigations business. Carole was much sought after by local law practitioners to assist in the pretrial work in civil cases. Her work helped resolve numerous lawsuits, including claims against employers and employees in workplace disputes. Carole also assisted her husband in a major investigation representing the victims of predator priests.
In 2020, Carole was selected to be interviewed by the Center for Oral and Public History for contribution to the intellectual and cultural life of Southern California. The copies of the interviews are stored at California State University, Fullerton.
Through all of this, Carole always found time for her family. She leaves behind her husband and traveling companion, Ed (They traveled to 80 Countries together and loved to fish in the Eastern Sierras), her son Chris Glave (Florence and grandchildren Dylan, Allie and step-grandchildren Jackson and Wesley), Son Corey Glave (grandson Logan and granddaughter Lundy), Step daughter Dana Solum (step-grandson James Solum), and step-daughter Kristy Valenzuela (step-son Augie and step- grandchildren Joseph and Abby).
Carole was beloved by her friends, especially her book club friends, for her compassion, intelligence and her insightful sense of humor..
Carole was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Hildy Chapman and her brother Frank Chapman Junior.
A friend described Carole’s passing as not only a loss for the family, but a loss for the community.
At Carole’s request, there will be a small family memorial only.