Our wonderful father, husband, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many, Ben Adan passed away at the age of 90 years old on Jan. 25, 2025.
Ben was born on April 15,1934, in Napa California to Ben and Frances Adan. He grew up in Napa attending Napa schools. Ben joined the U.S. Army on Aug. 31, 1956, and was stationed at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska. Upon discharge from the Army, he attended City College of San Francisco and completed a semiprofessional course on ornamental horticulture.
He moved to Eureka to accept a job with the city of Eureka to oversee all city parks, the Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka Municipal Golf Course, Myrtle Grove Cemetery and street trees. He was later promoted from park foreman to park superintendent. Ben spent 22 years of dedicated service. He was very proud of his career and had many adventures to tell.
Ben met the love of his life Diane Cain at Parks and Recreation summer camp where she worked during her summer months during college. They married on Aug. 4, 1963. Ben and Diane had two wonderful children, Tony and Alisa. Ben was always there for his children and grandchildren, never lacking in kindness, respect and support.
Ben was an exercise enthusiast, home gardener, amazing cook and baker, especially after retirement. He loved our cabin at Trinity Village. He enjoyed life, good food, great wine and held his family and friends close to his heart.
He loved the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers.
Diane and Ben went on many great trips to Europe, which started with a family trip to Spain where his parents were born. That trip was the first of many more traveling adventures. Ben was one of the original founders of the Humboldt Botanical Gardens. He was a very active 25-year member of the Native Sons of the Golden West. Ben was predeceased by his father Ben Adan, his mother Frances Adan and his brother Richard Adan. Also, many uncles and aunts and cousins; his father was one of nine children.
Ben is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Diane, his son, Tony Adan and wife Carina, his daughter Alisa Osburn, his grandchildren Lewis Osburn and wife Mavis, Kristen Osburn, Santiago and Vicente Adan. Great grandchildren Penelope Osburn, Parker Osburn, Brody Norton and Paisley Norton. Ben is also survived by his brother Tom Adan and his sisters-in-law Joan Adan, Cheryl Adan and Patty Cain. His nieces Maria Mittelstaat, Terri Adan, Amy Eaton and nephew Christopher Aguirre.
The Adan family would like to thank St. Joseph Hospital staff for Ben’s exceptional care.
We will be having a Celebration of Life gathering for Ben on Saturday, June 14, 2025. It will be held at Eureka’s Native Sons of the Golden West building (in Old Town)
623 Third St. from 1 to 4 p.m. Please email to RSVP (as food will be served) to cowdogx3@yahoo.com.
Donations in Ben’s memory can be made to Native Sons of the Golden West, Humboldt Parlor #14 Foundation, P.O. Box 5041, Eureka, CA 95502, or the Humboldt Botanical Gardens, hbgf@hbgf.org, (707) 442-5139.
This article appears in ‘God Looking Back at You’.