Monika Draggoo passed away on Monday, May 27, 2024 at the age of 77, after a lengthy, hard-fought battle with cancer.
Monika was born in Rorschach, Switzerland, but moved to Santa Barbara with her mother Gertrud Amacher in 1958 at the age of 11.
She attended Roosevelt Elementary, and La Colina and Santa Barbara junior high schools. She graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1965.
She attended Santa Barbara City College and UCSB before working at Metropolitan Theatres, where she met her future husband Jim. After getting married, they lived in Carpinteria, where Monika worked as a teller at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust for 12 years.
Following a bad experience when purchasing a home in Santa Barbara, Monika decided to become a real estate agent. After working for several brokers in Santa Barbara, she decided to get her own broker’s license and opened American Dream Properties of S.B., along with partner David Back.
Monika’s husband Jim also joined the real estate venture as CFO after retiring from Metropolitan Theatres.
Monika was a firm believer in owning property being the American Dream, and helped many families in Santa Barbara achieve that goal. She loved being able to hand first-time buyers the keys to their home.
Jim passed away in 2002, following a long bout with cancer, and Monika started traveling. She visited many places, among her favorites were the Getty Museum, the Grand Canyon (the Skywalk being a highlight of her trip there), Australia, New Zealand, Guatemala, and visits to Switzerland to visit her family.
Monika was involved in various community organizations throughout Santa Barbara; some of her interests being the Santa Barbara Police Department K-9 Unit and the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge #113.
She joined the Elks Lodge in 2003 after Jim passed away and jumped in with both feet. She loved the community involvement at the Elks, and quickly served in many positions including third vice president and second vice president, and culminated her tenure there as the first female Exalted Ruler in the 110-year history of the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge in 2010.
In the last few years, Monika and David started showing interest in owning and operating local restaurants in Santa Barbara with investments in Santo Mezcal and Maiz Picante Taqueria. Monika was very proud of these establishments and was always excited by their successes.
Monika is survived by her daughter Thia Raunsbak; son-in-law Steve; and grandchildren Kelsey, Hayley and Luke. Monika loved watching her grandkids grow up.
She is also survived by her brother Hanspeter Rubi; nephew Thomas and his wife Katrin, their son Marlon; nephew Andreas Rubi; niece Regula Rubi and her husband Ernst and their children Timo and Mona, all residing in Switzerland.
Monika is also survived by her partner David Back.
Special recognition from the family to Barbara Clayton, who joined American Dream Properties of S.B. and helped grow the company to the successful, premier business it is today.
In addition to Barbara, Griselda Madrigal and Yukiko Gonzalez help keep American Dream Properties of S.B. running smoothly and efficiently. They have all gone above and beyond over the last few years.
Thank you to the staff and doctors at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, special recognition to the nursing staff on Wood-Claeyssens 1st floor, especially nurses Kari Cortez and Ana Amparan.
Appreciation to Ridley Tree Cancer Center and Dr. Mukul Gupta. Monika’s family would like to show special gratitude to Dr. Jeffrey Sager, her personal physician who was always available and generous with his time.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 11 at Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapel, 15 E. Sola St., Santa Barbara, followed by internment at Calvary Cemetery.