Tokie Lynne Shynk
Tokie Lynne Shynk, 68, passed away peacefully at home in Santa Barbara with her husband John at her side on September 6, 2025, after a long illness.
Tokie was born in New Orleans, LA, in 1957 and raised in Groton, MA, where she graduated high school before enrolling in Boston University’s School of Nursing. After graduating with a B.S. degree in 1979, she worked for several years at VA Medical Centers in Boston, MA, Lyons, NJ, and Palo Alto, CA. In 1987, she joined Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, working in the Critical Care Unit, and was promoted to Nursing Director of the Cardiac Care Unit as well as the Intensive Care Unit. Tokie became Director of Critical Care Services in 2001 until her retirement in 2018. She also completed a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of La Verne, CA, in 1992.
Tokie enjoyed several outdoor activities including volleyball, biking, surfing, and triathlons. She was most passionate about trail and mountain hiking, with Santa Barbara, Red Rock Canyon, NV, and Telluride, CO, being her favorite locations. She was adventurous and liked to travel, summiting Mount Whitney and even hiking in Ecuador and Bhutan. Tokie was a warm and caring person with a great welcoming smile who made you feel appreciated, and she was always there for family and friends. She is considered by many to be a role model for her exuberance, dedication to her profession, and her resilience and optimism. Tokie was an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, whom she met in Boston during the Blizzard of 1978 and married in South Lake Tahoe, CA, in 1980. In addition to traveling widely, they enjoyed raising and entertaining several Labrador Retrievers over the years. She is also survived by her sister Rebecca Lawrence (Robert) of Fitzwilliam, NH; Hilary Paquette (David) and nieces Bryce and Leni Lynne of Windham, ME; James Lawrence of Boston; several loving cousins; and many supportive friends.
The family is sincerely thankful for the excellent care provided by the compassionate staff at Cottage Health, UCLA Health, VNA Hospice, and Ericka Nava Jarquin of Assisted Home Health.
Donations in Tokie’s memory can be made to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, 6800 Wheeler Canyon Road, Santa Paula, CA, 93060.
