Daniel Frank Lytle
July 20, 1940- November 8, 2024

A truly lovely man passed away on November 8, 2024, surrounded by myself, our daughter Sarah, and all four of our grandaughters: Erin, Gracie, Lylah and Ava. Also present was our dearest Brigid.

Dan was born in Alhambra, California to parents Barbara and Lowell Lytle. His sister Sharon was born two years later. The close-knit family moved to San Gabriel when he was three. The Mission San Gabriel Archangel had a large influence on his life. As well as being an altar boy, he attended kindergarten through twelfth grade there. After graduation he did odd jobs around the Mission— everything from digging the graves in the cemetery, to helping the cook Maria in the rectory. The latter inspired his love of cooking. He was also a docent at the Mission.

A life lived for 84 years is so difficult to sum up in a few paragraphs. Dan enjoyed cooking for his family and friends. He was self-taught by way of Julia Childs cookbooks. Dan was a voracious reader, having a vast library. He loved world and US history. But also spent many hours reading about different faiths and cultures, as well as sciences. Dan enjoyed traveling. His first trip to Europe was a solo trip in 1972. Together we traveled several times to Mexico, Europe, Hawaii and various places in the U.S. Dan loved classical music, theater and art. He shared this love with others in his life, helping to expose them to the arts.

Dan also held a strong work ethic. He was employed by several engineering firms in Southern California. He never called in sick or showed up late to work, which earned him respect from his superiors. He was well met, and well liked by his coworkers. Dan enjoyed his work life, being productive, and the social aspect that came with work. The work that he cherished and thrived in was his volunteer position as the director of the St. Joseph food bank, the Pantry Shelf. He expanded his repertoire of skills to include grant writing, public speaking, delivery, stock clerking, among many others. This work gave him so much satisfaction, knowing that he was giving back to the community

The adjectives that come to mind when I think of Dan are many — intelligent, gentle, humorous, imaginative, intuitive, well met, kind and loving. Mostly loving. He loved me and our family beyond measure. We met at work. It was love at first sight for me, and friendship at first sight for him. After three years of being friends, we went on our first date January of 1979. He proposed to me in the gardens of the San Gabriel Mission that May. We were married at the Mission October of that year. We went on to become a family of 5 with the birth of our children; Danny Jr, Sarah, and Timmy.

Dan was a present father in his kids lives, and later became a father figure in his granddaughters lives as well. Our kids and grandkids had the benefit of his imagination not just the stories he created, but in the masterful re-telling of classic stories such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. They were exciting, intense, and sometimes, a wee bit scary. Dad, Poppa, Grandpapa, was there for sporting events, school events or special occasions. But most importantly, he was there everyday. The family sat down for dinners every night, many of those prepared by Dan. Dan even endured many years of camping trips. Not his favorite pastime, but that’s how much he loved us. Dan’s family never had to wonder if he loved them. He told them and showed them on a daily basis.

Dan’s love for me was transformative. Truly I would not be who I am today if it were not for Dan. He believed I could do and be anything. And made me believe it. It was Dan who made an insightful observation that started me on my path to becoming a registered nurse. It was Dan who gave me the confidence to pursue my profession. Dan took over the household duties. Between Dan and our dear friends, Tom and Elise Frederick, the house was maintained, the children were taken care of, and I was allowed to focus on my studies. There was no one more proud of my accomplishments than Dan. His love made me a better person. Dan truly did raise me up. We were blessed to have 45 years together. We were soulmates, and he will always be the love of my life.

Dan’s journey with cancer began in December of 2021. In true Dan fashion, he approached it as a learning experience and a new adventure that we went on together. We are both grateful for the blessings along the way we received from so many people, from the many doctors at UCSF to our family and friends. I need to thank my co-workers at Redwood Memorial Hospital, who showed me grace when I needed to be home with Dan. I am blessed to work with such a caring group. I need to thank Deacon Tom Silva, who is truly a servant of God. He came when I called and ministered to Dan and our whole family. My friend Donna McQueen has been instrumental in putting the memorial service together. I can’t thank her enough. I need to mention Doctor Cass Kennedy. I don’t know what it was, but Dan and Doctor Kennedy immediately had a fondness for one another. Doctor Kennedy was instrumental throughout Dan’s journey. It wasn’t just her expertise, but her caring and going the extra mile that endeared her to both Dan and I. I can’t say enough about Brigid Young, I really can’t. More sister than friend to us both. Our kids and grandkids call her Auntie Brigid. Brigid was here daily. She moved quietly, making sure things got done. The housework, food, transportation and just being present with Dan and myself. Brigid is truly selfless. Thank you to her husband Tim for so graciously sharing her with us. Lastly I need to thank our daughter Sarah and our four grandaughters who traveled this journey with us, especially the last four weeks. Sarah brought so much comfort to her Dad, and helped hold down the fort. The grandaughters took turns sitting and talking with him, and being a source of comfort for us. One of the lessons of the Cross is that it was the women who stayed and were present.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell and Barbara Lytle. He is survived by his wife, Maureen; his children, Danny Jr., Sarah Olson, and Timmy Lytle; and his grandchildren, Erin Lytle, Grace Olson, Lylah Olson, Ava Olson, and Dawson Lytle. He is also survived by his sister, Sharon Palmer (Gary); his brother-in-law, Leo Dooley; and his sisters-in-law, Colleen Haight (Jeff) and Mary-Anne Dooley. Additionally, Dan is survived by his cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life for Dan will be held Saturday, January 18 at 11 a.m. at the St. Joseph Parish activity center located adjacent to the parish office at 2292 Newburg Rd., Fortuna. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the St. Joseph Pantry food bank, St. Vincent de Paul in Eureka, or the Red Cross for the L.A. wildfires.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Daniel Lytle’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Humboldt Special Olympics Seeks Community Support After New Year’s Day Break-In at Storage Facility

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On January 3, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a report of theft from a Eureka storage unit containing equipment for the local Special Olympics organization.

The victim reported that among the items stolen were the Special Olympics Torch, first aid kits, multiple pop-up tents, travel bags, swimming equipment, and baseball equipment. An HCSO Community Service Officer obtained security footage of a suspect, a masked male wearing all black, using bolt cutters to break the lock and proceeding to removing items from the storage unit. The security footage also showed the suspect entering a silver Mercedes SUV.

On Jan. 5, a deputy located a silver Mercedes SUV, matching the description of the vehicle involved in this burglary, at the Herrick Park and Ride in Eureka. The vehicle’s registration was determined to be expired, confirmed by the Emergency Communications Center, and was in connection to a subject named Ronald Owen, 43.

On Jan. 9, around 9.a.m., a deputy met up with a Eureka Police Department (EPD) Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET) officer to contact Owen at a camp on the Hikshari Trail and observed a new 10x10 pop-up tent erected in front of his personal tent as well as a 10x10 tent in a black carrying bag nearby. Owen consented to a search an additional tarp-covered structure that he identified as his storage area, and the EPD officer discovered a backpack labeled “Special Olympics” and approximately 15 gym bags.

A deputy placed Owen under arrest without incident and booked him at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)).

The torch was located and returned to law enforcement by a citizen along the Hikshari Trail in Eureka, and more than 50 golf balls were turned in to the Sheriff’s Office by a concerned citizen who found them at Herrick Park and Ride in Eureka. We would like to thank the citizens who returned the found items to the Sheriff’s Office. The items have been returned to their rightful owner.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office:

Today, the Honorable Kaleb V. Cockrum sentenced 53-year-old Gary Lee Campbell, Jr. of Eureka to serve 50 years to life in prison for his violent crimes.

On February 20, 2024, 17-year-old Jane Doe was with a 19-year-old male who introduced her to Campbell and unexpectedly left her with him. Campbell invited Doe to his Eureka residence so she could wait for her friend. Once he had Doe alone at his home, Campbell suddenly attacked and sexually assaulted her after he bound her wrists and ankles together. Doe escaped after the assault and called 911 to report what happened to her. Eureka Police Department Officers acted quickly, and arrested Campbell that evening.

In early November of 2024, the case proceeded to jury trial during which Doe bravely testified against her attacker, as did a former girlfriend of Campbell and another female acquaintance, each of whom described acts of violence they endured at the hands of Campbell. Testimony regarding evidence collected by Jennifer Hovie, Registered Nurse, with the Sexual Assault Response Team, which corroborated Doe’s testimony of the horrific acts perpetrated upon her by Campbell, was also presented. Ultimately, on November 27, the jury found Campbell guilty of multiple forcible sex crimes against a minor, as well as a domestic violence charge against an adult female.

District Attorney Stacey Eads said “I commend each of the women who testified against their perpetrator for their strength and resilience, leading the way to place an extremely violent person in prison. Thank you to the Humboldt County jurors for their service.”

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm with assistance from Investigator Greg Hill, DA Victim Witness Advocate Keosha Chambers, and members of the North Coast Rape Crisis Team.

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Make sure to unmute the above video for the enthusiastic call from the play-by-play announcer. And below you’ll find the breathless press release from Humboldt Athletics:

ARCATA, Calif. – In a moment that will be etched into the annals of Lumberjack Arena, Kalib LaCount hit a buzzer-beater from just inside half court to lift Cal Poly Humboldt to an electrifying 80-77 victory over Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday night. The dramatic win marked the Lumberjacks’ first triumph over the Coyotes since February 16, 2019, snapping a seven-game losing streak in the series.

“It took the entire 40 minutes to get this one across the finish line, but I am very excited for our players and fans,” stated head coach Chris Tifft. “San Bernardino fought and clawed to get back into the game, but we found a way to stay focused just long enough to get the exciting win on our home floor. Our guys will remember this one.”

Game Recap

The Lumberjacks (7-5, 3-4 CCAA) came out firing in the first half, shooting an impressive 61.5% from the field. Led by LaCount’s 22 points—a career-high—and a stellar 21-point performance from Rob Diaz III, Humboldt built a 42-36 halftime lead.

Cal State San Bernardino (11-5, 4-3 CCAA) battled back in the second half behind a game-high 26 points from Evan Oliver and a dominant 23-point, 13-rebound double-double from Nic Welp. The Coyotes tied the game multiple times but were unable to take the lead.

In the final moments, with the game tied at 77 and the Coyotes poised for overtime, LaCount took control. As the clock wound down, he launched a deep shot from just inside half court, sending the Lumberjack faithful into pandemonium as the ball went through the net.

By the Numbers

• Kalib LaCount: 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, including the game-winning buzzer-beater.
• Rob Diaz III: 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, and 4 rebounds.
• Kyle Frelow: 14 points and 8 rebounds, anchoring the Lumberjacks in the paint. He also had 3 steals and 2 blocks defensively. 
• Humboldt shot 51.0% from the field, including a solid 72.7% from the free-throw line (24-of-33).
• The Lumberjacks scored 22 points off turnovers and dominated the fast break with 28 points.

Streak Snapped

Thursday’s win ended a seven-game losing streak to the Coyotes, dating back nearly six years. The last victory came on February 16, 2019, when Humboldt also triumphed in front of a raucous home crowd. Up Next

The Lumberjacks will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup against Cal Poly Pomona this Saturday, January 11, at 3:00 p.m. in Lumberjack Arena. Fans are encouraged to come out and support as the Jacks aim to extend their two game winning streak. It is also Youth Day, so the team will be signing post game autographs for all kids in attendance. 

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt men’s basketball, please visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app, and follow us on all social media platforms. 

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Here’s another angle of the game-winner:

Press release from the City of Arcata:

Looking to offset upcoming travel or purchase local gifts for the environmentally-conscious friends and family? Consider the gift of carbon offsets from the Arcata Community Forest!

Thanks to a partnership between the City of Arcata’s Environmental Services Department and the Climate Action Reserve, anyone can invest in ecologically based, sustainable forestry and protect the climate by purchasing local carbon offsets. The City once again has forest carbon offsets available from the Arcata Community Forest’s Jacoby Creek Forest Tract and Sunnybrae Forest Tract. The City anticipates having even more carbon credits available later in 2025 following a stringent reverification process with the Climate Action Reserve. The City would like to remind residents to reduce carbon emissions when they can, and offset when they can’t!

For $37 per metric ton (or $35 each when buying 10 or more), greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will be reduced equivalent to a round-trip flight from SFO to JFK or driving a midsized car 2,000 miles. Give the eco gift that keeps on giving to the whole planet! Buying offsets from the Arcata Community Forest helps to grow large, old trees and pays for carbon sequestration for the long term — that’s 100 years or more!

For more information on reducing greenhouse gases with carbon offsets, go to climateactionreserve.org/. To buy Arcata Community Forest carbon offsets, visit the City’s webpage to download and fill out a purchase form at cityofarcata.org/710/Carbon-Sequestration-Other.

For any questions or to learn more about the City’s forest carbon offsets, please call the Environmental Services Department at (707) 822-8184 or email the department at eservices@cityofarcata.org.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Jan. 7, 2025, at around 10:30 p.m., the Bear River Police Department requested assistance with a possibly armed individual causing a disturbance and refusing to leave their facility.

Deputies arrived and met the Bear River Police Department Chief and hotel security staff. Bear River Police requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office to remove the subject that was causing a disturbance and trespassing. Deputies confirmed that the subject refused a lawful order to leave and reportedly told Bear River Police that he was armed with a firearm. Deputies and Tribal Police worked together to locate and contact the subject in the hallway of the hotel. They observed the male subject still causing a disturbance in the hallway and banging on hotel room doors. The subject was initially not following commands, and he attempted to speak to someone through a closed hotel room door. Deputies and officers continued to speak to the subject, and he began yelling as he reached for his pocket. Deputies ordered him to stop and demanded that he follow their commands. The Deputies and Tribal Officers subsequently moved in and forced the subject against the wall and took him into custody without further incident. No firearm was located on the subject.

The subject identified himself to the deputy as “Bradford Harris,” but it was later determined that his actual name was Brad Nutley, 24, of McKinleyville. Nutley was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for violation of trespassing, PC 602(o), and giving false identification to a peace officer, PC 148.9(a).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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As we settle into the new year and prepare for what will hopefully be a peaceful transition of presidential power, your ever-curious LoCO has been wondering what’s next for Humboldt’s burgeoning offshore wind industry and the port development project that will support it. 

At a press conference at Mar-a-Lago earlier this week, President-elect Donald J. Trump promised that “no new windmills” would be built in the United States after he takes office and insisted that wind turbines kill whales, although scientists have said there is no evidence to support such claims. So, what does that mean for the floating offshore wind project planned 20 miles west of Eureka?

To learn more about what’s to come in 2025, we reached out to Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Development Director Rob Holmlund for an update on the Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

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LoCO: It’s been a while since we’ve heard a progress report on port development and the offshore wind projects slated for the North Coast. What’s the Harbor District been up to lately?

Rob Holmlund: Well, the possibly unsatisfying answer is that we’re up to the same thing we’ve been up to for the past year. This is a big project, so none of our fundamental plans have really changed. We’re deep into the permitting and design process, so there’s nothing fundamentally new to share but there’s plenty of activity going on. That’s the short answer.

LoCO: Is the Harbor District concerned about the incoming presidency? President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects “on day one” of his presidency. What is the industry doing to prepare for the change in leadership and what does it mean for the projects planned for our coastline?

Holmlund: The state of California has goals to produce 25 gigawatts of offshore wind [energy] by 2045, with or without the federal government. … There’s a whole portfolio of renewable energy projects – solar, onshore wind, offshore wind – that the state is actively working on to have 100 percent clean electricity in the state by 2045. Offshore wind is just a part of that, but it’s a really important part. … Our offshore wind project will proceed in support of the state’s [renewable energy goals].

Another thing to think about is the East Coast. On the West Coast, we have these two lease areas – one off the Humboldt coast and one off the Morro Bay coast – but there are literally dozens [of lease areas] off the East Coast – from New England all the way down to Virginia – that are actively involved in permitting, in the early planning stages or have wind turbines in them already. The East Coast has been doing this for years. … Prior to the first Trump administration, there was a lot of activity on the East Coast for offshore wind. It slowed down a little bit during the Trump administration, and then picked back up during the Biden administration. So I think it’s safe to assume that something similar will happen during the second Trump administration. … He may not be supportive, but I don’t think that will lead to a complete elimination of the offshore wind industry. We still have the state of California pushing really hard.

LoCO: One of the first things that comes to my mind is potentially limited access to federal grant funds. Could the Trump administration limit access to federal funding for offshore wind energy projects?

Holmlund: Well, we right now, we have somewhere in the range of $455 million in grants from the state and federal government for the [port development] project, and those grants are pretty well secured so it’s difficult to imagine any of them being retracted. And I don’t know that [the district] is immediately counting on more federal funds in the next four years. It’s a big project and we can definitely use some help, but I think we’re pretty well set, at least for the next four years.

LoCO: As I understand, the district has until September 2026, to secure the matching funds needed to match the $426 million Department of Transportation grant that was awarded last year. Any progress there?

Holmlund: The matching funds have to be non-federal, which is helpful for this conversation. The state of California passed the Climate Bond [Proposition 4] this past November and … somewhere in the range of $800 million is earmarked for offshore wind port terminals. That will be a good source to provide a match to the federal grant. We’re also looking at a number of other state opportunities and, ultimately, the private sector is going to have to invest.

LoCO: When you say private sector, are you referring to offshore wind developers?

Holmlund: It could be offshore wind developers, it could be OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) or any number of businesses in the offshore wind industry. It could even just be private financing. There’s a lot of options that we’re currently exploring.

LoCO: Shifting back to the heavy lift marine terminal project, I understand the District recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Port of Long Beach to collaborate on port development. Can you describe what that collaboration will look like?

Holmlund: The MOU with the Port of Long Beach, which also includes the State Lands Commission, is really formalizing a partnership that we’ve had for well over a year. When I was talking earlier about the state’s goals for offshore wind, if you crunch those numbers … and you look at the average, estimated size of each wind turbine, you’ll likely need somewhere in the range of 1,600 wind turbines to be assembled and deployed into the ocean in the next 20 years. We’ve got about five years before we’re going to be putting any in the ocean while we construct these projects. So, when you’re talking about assembling 1,600 of them in 15 years, there’s no way our project could do that alone and there’s no way that the Port of Long Beach’s project could do that alone either. 

The Port of Long Beach has a project very similar to ours but it’s about double the size. … We were actually ahead of them in the planning process, so we’ve been sharing some of our design concepts, environmental analyses and stakeholder strategies. As they started catching up, they started sharing their work with us and we thought, ‘Hey, let’s formalize this.’ A lot of people say that Long Beach and Humboldt are competitors … but really we’re not. Both of our projects are needed to get to the state goal and we are actively collaborating on a weekly basis.

LoCO: The district’s partnership agreement with Crowley Wind Services expired in March of last year. At that time, the district said Crowley would continue to support the project in one form or another. Is Crowley still working with the district on the port development project? Does the district plan to issue a second request for proposals (RFP) anytime soon?

Holmlund: We don’t have a formal relationship with Crowley currently. Like a lot of companies associated with offshore wind, we consult with them periodically and ask for their feedback on designs. … We did release a solicitation of interest (SOI) to companies that may be interested in responding to an RFP to operate the project site, and we got dozens of responses. Really, we were just seeing what kind of interest [there is] in operating the site or being involved in the project in the future. We’re using the [SOI] as the basis for developing an RFP, which we will likely release later this year and begin the process of identifying an operator.

LoCO: The district received criticism from North Coast tribes and others for its decision to enter into an exclusive right to negotiate with Crowley due to the company’s track record. Some also felt the district entered into the partnership too quickly. It sounds like the district has learned from that experience and is moving through the process more carefully. Can you speak to that?

Holmlund: [The Harbor District is] under a different leadership, and we’re approaching things differently. At this point, we’re meeting regularly with seven different tribes. We have a committee of aquaculture businesses, a committee of fishing businesses, a community advisory committee and a technical advisory committee, all of which include regular, everyday citizens of our community. So, we’re working really hard to understand the interests of various stakeholders and we will involve a number of different people in the process of … selecting an operator.

LoCO: Thank you for taking the time to provide an update on the project. Is there anything else you’d like to add or share with our community?

Holmlund: Sure. We regularly update our website and there are literally dozens of technical studies that are available to the public to review on there. I imagine you’ve already seen the YouTube videos that we’ve done, but those are still available. … There’s going to be more meetings and a lot more information available to the public over the next 12 months, so now’s a good time to get engaged in the project if you haven’t already.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Harbor District Announces Massive Offshore Wind Partnership; Project Would Lead to an 86-Acre Redevelopment of Old Pulp Mill Site
• Offshore Wind is Coming to the North Coast. What’s in it For Humboldt?
• ‘Together We Can Shape Offshore Wind for The West Coast’: Local Officials, Huffman and Others Join Harbor District Officials in Celebrating Partnership Agreement With Crowley Wind Services
• Crowley — the Company That Wants to Build a Big Wind Energy Facility on the Peninsula — Will be Opening Offices in Eureka
• Harbor District to Host Public Meeting Kicking Off Environmental Review of Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project
• Humboldt Harbor District Officials Talk Port Development As Offshore Wind Efforts Ramp Up
• County of Humboldt, Developers Sign Memorandum of Agreement in a ‘Momentous Step Forward’ for Offshore Wind Development on the North Coast
• Harbor District Responds to Crowley Controversy, Commits to the ‘Highest Ethical Standards’
• LoCO Interview: The Outpost Talks to Crowley Executives About Recent Allegations of Misconduct, Port Development on the Samoa Peninsula and the Company’s Future in Humboldt
• Harbor District Board of Commissioners to Discuss Proposed Offshore Wind Terminal Project, Lease Agreement With Crowley During Tonight’s Meeting
• (UPDATE) Huffman Announces $8.7 Million Federal Grant Toward Offshore Wind Port Development
• Harbor District Commissioners to Discuss Extended Partnership Agreement with Crowley Wind Services During Tonight’s Meeting
• WHOA: Rep. Huffman’s Office Teases $426 Million Federal Grant for Offshore Wind Terminal, to be Announced Tomorrow
• (PHOTOS) The Biggest Federal Grant in Humboldt History? Huffman, Assorted Worthies Gather on Woodley Island to Celebrate $426 Million in Infrastructure Funding for Offshore Wind
• At a Two-Day Conference in Eureka This Week, North Coast Tribes Advocate for ‘Meaningful Engagement’ With Offshore Wind Developers, Federal Regulators
• Crowley Wind Services’s Partner Agreement With the Harbor District Will Expire Without a Lease, Leaving Future Relationship Unclear
• (VIDEO) See What Wind Turbine Assembly Would Look Like on Humboldt Bay, Courtesy of This Presentation From the Harbor District
• Did You See That Big Ship in Humboldt Bay Last Week? That’s the Vessel Mapping the Seabed and Collecting Data for Offshore Wind Development