Leila Carpenter

Leila Carpenter passed away in her sleep, alongside family, on June 7. She was 83 years old.

Soft-spoken and reserved, Leila was a fiercely independent and loyal person. She grew up in southern Sweden, the middle of three children. She was a star tennis player, and studied at Stockholm University. After moving to Manhattan Beach on her own, she became a physical therapist and met the love of her life, Dave, on a blind date. The two married in 1980 in Sweden, where they spent almost every summer of their lives together.

They moved to Montecito from Pacific Palisades in 1997. Leila became known as a prolific gardener — regularly sharing her flowers and fruits with the community — and avid golfer. She was an excellent cook who had stunning taste and a knack for telling it like was. She was in a class by herself; respected and adored by those who knew her.

Leila is survived by her husband, Dave; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle Carpenter and Matt Macdonald; two brothers and their spouses, Leif and Lena Sjögren, Ulf and Anne Sjögren; two step-children and their spouses, Kim and Bill Robertson, Clay and Laurie Carpenter; as well as several nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren.