Henry Wildenborg, co-owner of Vices & Spices, one of the oldest coffee stores in Santa Barbara, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2026 at home from Parkinson’s disease.

Henry was one of 11 children, raised in the small town of Winona, Minnesota, on the Mississippi River.

After serving in the Marines during the Vietnam war, he helped a friend move to California and decided to stay.

Known to many as “the gentle giant,” Henry he stood 6 feet 5 inches tall, yet never looked down on anyone.

He was a passionate traveler and circled the globe twice, holding a particular affinity for Asia.

A skilled photographer, Henry chronicled his travels in pictures and movies, which in turn inspired many friends and patrons to follow in his footsteps and Vices & Spices became a meeting place for fellow travelers to swap stories and inspiration.

He married Candice Etz and became a step-dad to her two children and “Gramps” to their five grandchildren.

When he retired as operating manager of Vices, Henry became a handyman and put his abundant practical skills to use for his many loyal Vices customers.

He enjoyed his final years at home in Santa Barbara, delighting in stories of travel and adventure that family and friends brought back to share with him.