Harvey Baumoel

As a former co-worker stated, “Harvey was an advocate for the most marginalized members of our community and he caused good trouble when he stood up for them.”

Harvey Baumoel, beloved husband of Theresa Staber and devoted father of Bryan Staber-Baumoel (deceased); dear brother of Helene Goodman (San Diego) and Debra Baumoel (St. Louis) passed away peacefully on March 14^th .  Throughout the 27 years he had lived with reoccurring Cancer he was steadfast in his courage, research and spiritual strength which inspired many Cancer survivors in small groups that he helped facilitate over the years through the Cancer Resource Center in Ukiah.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio Harvey attended Ohio State University and then joined Vista as a conscientious objector gathering letters from area Rabbis.  He worked both at Rikers Island Prison, New York and at a half-way house in Boston. He then moved to Berkeley where he continued working at a half-way house for several years before relocating to Lyons Valley outside Ukiah with a small Bay Area group in 1978.

His political involvement started at Ohio State where he was in a spiritually minded activist group protesting the Vietnam war and continued throughout his years in Mendocino County where he was active with local Democrats.  He met his wife Theresa while they were both campaigning in 1980. After getting married many times on the stage in “Fiddler on the Roof” he asked her to marry him.  They married in 1987 and adopted their son Bryan in 1989.

Harvey was foremost passionate about helping people discover their own inner strengths and abilities by working through their emotional issues.  He was a strong group facilitator, counselor and advocate for his clients at Mental Health.  In later years he joined his wife in becoming a Spiritual Mind Practitioner through the Center for Spiritual Living where he served as an active Board Member.  He taught classes and presided at CSL in Ukiah and Fort Bragg.  He was a lifelong seeker of Spiritual Truths and incorporated these truths throughout his life in the way he lived.

Harvey had been in a men’s' group for the majority of his time in Mendocino County.  He valued the support and camaraderie that groups provided.   He facilitated “Men Against Violence” groups for Public Health and facilitated groups for “Emotions Anonymous” in person and on zoom where he was the sponsor for people all over the world during Covid.  

For people who knew Harvey. he is remembered for his warm greetings with a hug and smile and most probably some humorous comment.  He loved to sing (doo wop) acapella with friends, play drums and harmonicas, act in local plays, father his son, dance with his wife, and tend his garden.  He would often get a request to play the “William Tell Overture” on his harmonica or be the disc jockey at a party.  He acted in many plays; noteworthy were his roles in “The Foreigner”, “Brighton Beach Memoirs”, “The Wizard of Oz” and as Motel the Tailor in “Fiddler on the Roof”.

The date for the Memorial Service will be announced later.  Donations to honor Harvey can be made to the Cancer Resource Center, Caring Kitchen or Hospice in Ukiah.