Obituary of Donna Kirk Seyle

Donna Kirk Seyle passed away from complications of leukemia at her home on the evening of May 10, 2023, surrounded by her husband Nick, sons Taylor and Colin and his wife Bonny. Donna Marie Kirk was born on May 13, 1951, in Camden, New Jersey to Raymond Frances and Maria Grace “Biasone” Kirk. She grew up in Oaklyn, New Jersey, with her siblings Eileen, Jeffery and James. She attended Saint Aloysius Elementary and Paul VI High School where she was active in student government, piano, sports, and cheerleading. With her family and later with friends Donna enjoyed vacationing and raising a little hell on the Jersey Shore. A big city girl at heart, she moved to New York City (NYC) upon graduating high school. In 1969 in New York Donna met and married Phil Hartshorne, who introduced her to communes and the Jersey Shore music scene. Though her marriage didn’t last, her discovery, lifelong fascination, appreciation and soul-felt connection to Bruce Springsteen did. His New Jersey working class roots, spirit-felt connections and acute perceptions of life resonated to Donna’s core. Throughout her life Donna enjoyed his concerts, albums, movies, and books. She was moved to tears after his Broadway performance. Attending Adelphi University and then New York University, she wrote movie reviews for “The Village Voice” an avant-garde newspaper. Her review of Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” earned her a personal letter from the screen writer, Paul Schrader, saying her analysis of the main character was right on. Donna always had a knack for writing, her perception and intellect gave her a profound ability to put things in the proper context and come up with profound revelations. She was just plain smart. Working at a prestigious advertising agency Donna met her lifelong friend, Diane Horne. Over an early FAX machine which took 45 minutes to send an image, they shared stories and became fast friends. In the 1970’s NYC and East Village were their oyster with club hopping at places like the renowned CBGB’s. Donna worked in theater and started a lifelong love of dance, yoga, teaching Pilates and body movement disciplines. She also worked for William Kunstler, the civil rights lawyer who defended the Chicago Seven, grooming her attraction to political and social justice causes. Donna always seemed to move along the cutting edge of life. In the 1980’s Donna gave up NYC and moved to Los Angeles working in a film lab catering to prominent LA photographers and moved on to work as a paralegal for a large insurance defense firm. The law partner told her she was too smart to remain a paralegal and following his advice she was accepted to Southwestern University School of Law in 1984.  Working full time and going to night school, Donna exhibited her tenacious nature to pursue a goal and follow through. She graduated in 1987 with a Juris Doctorate and passed the California State Bar on her first try. While attending law school, Donna met David Fulton and they married in 1987. After working in law firms and enjoying the 1980’s fast paced LA lifestyle, they moved to Santa Cruz in 1988. They had two sons, Taylor in 1989 and Colin in 1992. Although the two divorced in 1998, they continued to parent the boys with mutual respect and care. Her sons were the greatest joy of Donna’s life. Helping them through school, little league, being the player agent, reading their favorite books, going through life’s changes, and watching them grow into fine adults and loving husbands was considered the greatest accomplishment in her life. Donna was happy with the boys and was grateful their wives became the daughters she never had. Family was always paramount to Donna, and she enjoyed many trips to Southern California and back East to visit parents, siblings and for holidays. Donna’s accomplishments were many. During this time, she worked in the small Capitola law firm Newman and Marcus then transitioned into her real work love, real estate. Getting her broker’s license, she worked at Thunderbird Realty from 1998 until the real estate collapse of 2008, then at West Marine, reviewing contracts in their commercial properties division. Even though she was forced into retirement due to numerous back surgeries, she always found challenges for what one doctor called “her perfect brain.” In retirement she founded the virtual-based Freelance Law Firm in 2009 and Law Practice Strategy, a law practice consultancy, in 2010. As a member of the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Management Section and e-lawyering task force and California State Bar's Law Practice Management and Technology Division, she worked to promote online development for small scale law firms. Ahead of her time, the legal community caught up to her due to the Covid pandemic. When visiting Hawaii Donna fell in love with islands and it was a favored destination for the rest of her life. The heat and lush tropics agreed with her body and soul and ultimately, she bought a home on Kauai. Through many changes of life, she enjoyed hiking, swimming, body surfing, beach lounging, dining, the sun, and the soft breezes of the islands right up to the end. While working Thunderbird Realty in early 2000 she met General Contractor Nicholas Seyle. Her perceptive world view insights, wry social commentary, subtle sense of humor and direct no nonsense, tell it like it is nature made them immediate friends. They shared the struggles of life and traumas of the day and always ended up laughing about the ultimate absurdities of the situations. They became involved in real estate ventures; in 2006 Donna foretold the looming 2008 real estate collapse and the ventures collapsed. Losing at business they gained at love and on May 5, 2007, they wed. Donna’s search for inner peace, attended Coastlands Church in Aptos, and was born again, was baptized at Seacliff beach. There she helped with administration duties and sang in the choir. Going forward Donna strengthened by faith used God’s gifts to create a truly loving relationship with Nick. Always gravitating towards that which healed and resolving any discontent. It was that shared spirit that maintained them through all the struggles of life with genuine joy and gratitude. It was with that compassionate spirit Donna ministered to many people who crossed her path in need of emotional support. When Donna’s health was failing she drew upon her faith to go through the struggles expressing “I feel God’s presence and he uplifts me.” In her final years Donna and Nick made a wonderful home in Seabright. She designed and created a beautiful garden and a warm and safe home. At first spending her days running their construction company, traveling East, West, and South, and supporting her favorite political and social causes. Later she loved to walk in Arana Gulch Park and made friends along the way and was compassionate to the wayward people she encountered. In the end she passed just where she wanted to be, in her favorite room, on a sunny afternoon surrounded by the love of her family. God rest her beautiful soul. Donna is survived by her grateful husband Nicholas Seyle of Santa Cruz, son Taylor Fulton and wife Sirada of San Francisco, son Colin Fulton and wife Bonny of Royal Oaks, sister Eileen Lazarloff Kirk of Cape May, NJ and Sarasota FL, brother Jeff Kirk of Oceanside and nieces Brittney Kirk and Holly Kirk, and brother Jimmy Kirk of Cambridge Springs, PA and niece Anna Kirk and nephew Ben Kirk. There will be a visitation at the Crystal Chapel at Oakwood Memorial Park, 3301 Paul Sweet Road in Santa Cruz on Monday, May 22, 2023, from 11 am to 2 pm, followed by the graveside service.