Irwin Louis Lunianski, MD, beloved father, grandfather, and devoted physician, lived a remarkable life defined by resilience, hard work, and an unwavering dedication to his family and helping his patients. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he spent his earliest years there before his family moved to Astoria, where he lived until age 7. He then moved to Bellerose, Queens, where he spent the rest of his childhood and teenage years.

Gifted with a sharp mind and an intense drive to learn, he attended Stuyvesant High School, one of New York City’s most prestigious public schools. His academic journey continued at Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he distinguished himself as a curious and dedicated student. During his third year of college, he lived abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland, an experience that broadened his worldview and remained one of the great adventures of his youth.

After returning to the United States, he moved to Palo Alto to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a physician, earning his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine in 1964. He completed further training in New York, including programs in Adult Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry as well as psychoanalysis. Throughout his career, he became known for his broad and exceptional expertise across many disciplines of psychiatric care, practicing for decades in Santa Barbara, California.

His life was profoundly shaped by his family history. His father was born in Poland and survived the horrors of the Nazi invasion, escaping while the rest of his family perished. This legacy of endurance and loss deeply influenced Irwin’s moral compass, his gratitude for opportunity, and his fierce work ethic.

Known lovingly as “Poppi” by his children and grandchildren, he embodied the true meaning of a self‑made man. His determination was evident from the very beginning—he started shining shoes at age 4, and from that moment forward, he worked continuously for more than eight decades, finally retiring at 86 years old. Every challenge he encountered, he overcame through sheer grit, intellect, and perseverance.

In New York City, during their early medical training, he met Jacqueline Touw, then a nursing student, and the two fell in love. They married in 1969 and shared 25 years of memories together, building a family as Jackie devoted herself to raising their children while Irwin pursued his medical career. Though their marriage later ended, their bond did not—Jackie remained an important and cherished presence throughout the rest of his life.

Irwin later shared his life with his second wife, Loraine Seborg, a respected academic whose intellect and warmth brought lasting depth to his world. Their years together were filled with companionship, purpose, and connection, enduring until her death in 2005.

In the years that followed, Irwin was introduced through mutual friends to Rhoda (“Ro”) Rosenthal, an attorney, accomplished musician, and longtime Santa Barbara community volunteer. The two quickly formed an easy and enduring partnership. Over the next decade, they traveled widely, enjoyed shared artistic and intellectual interests, and remained closely connected to family.

Throughout his life, Irwin was enriched by the women he loved—Jacqueline, Lorraine, and Ro—each of whom brought beauty, intelligence, and cultural vibrancy into his life, qualities he deeply admired and cherished. In his later eighties, he also shared a warm and spirited friendship with Louise Gerber, with whom he traveled to Europe on a Rick Steves walking tour and enjoyed many other adventures that added joy and companionship to his final years.

Professionally, Irwin devoted more than 60 years to caring for patients in Santa Barbara, serving at the County of Santa Barbara Public Health Department as well as in private practice. His work spanned general psychiatry, neurology, and forensic psychiatry, and he was known for his thoughtful and meticulous approach to patient care. Thousands of lives were touched by his calm presence, clinical skill, and compassion.

But above all his accomplishments, Poppi will be remembered for his drive, intellectual rigor, and the deep love he held for his family. Though he was a man of few words, he expressed his devotion through action—through his tireless work, his steadfast presence, and a lifetime spent in service to others. His story is one of extraordinary determination, quiet heroism, and enduring love made visible in all that he did.

He is survived by his sister Stephanie Lunianski (with partner Pat Baccalore); his brother Lloyd Lunianski (with partner Eric Santarelli); his three children Kira Baker, Rachel Kauffman, and David Lunianski; and his beloved grandchildren — Katie, Quinn, Maxwell, Galexi, Ronan, and Anja — all of whom brought him immense pride and joy throughout his life.