Lindsey Curts Babich

Lindsey Babich, age 69, died peacefully Aug. 21.

She was born in 1951 in San Francisco, California. After attending the University of Puget Sound for two years, she worked in the nursery business until she met Randy Babich, who became her husband and best friend for 40 years.

Enamored with the spirit and excitement of Randy’s commercial fishing profession, together they fished salmon, halibut and black cod in the frontier waters of Alaska, and she excelled at all jobs on the boat. Nobody could mend net or navigate a fishing vessel with more confidence and skill than Lindsey. She inspired other women to enter this unique occupation. She and Randy formed a successful company that specializes in making caviar from chum salmon eggs.

Lindsey’s biggest passion was cooking and a number of times she prepared superb multicourse auction dinners for up to 250 people at a time. She adored her library of 120 cookbooks, her source for creative inspiration. She enjoyed her daily walks with the dogs around the many acres of the family home in Longbranch, and her husband’s hobby of horticulture. Together the couple established a multiacre ecosystem preserve.

Intelligent and witty, she could tell jokes for hours and it was not unusual to see a dozen fully captivated people sitting around her table after dinner in continuous laughter. Nobody could beat her at writing creative limericks or a game of chess. She loved sports and read at least one book a week.

She had a million-dollar smile and an infectious laugh. She loved her friends, many of whom said their lives were enriched by knowing her. She adhered to a course of action in life of kindness and generosity with her time and love.

Lindsey is survived by her husband, Randy; daughter, Mackenzie Ball; two grandsons, Jackson and Robbie; sister, Barbara Nombalais; and niece, Jennine Christensen.

In memory of her love of animals, donations can be made in her name to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.