Robert “Tully” Ramsaur Jr., a longtime Santa Barbara resident, respected CPA, generous community supporter, and beloved friend to many, passed away at his home on Aug. 4, 2026, at the age of 78, after living for many years with Parkinson’s disease.
Born on July 4, 1948, Tully was the son of Col. Robert T. Ramsaur Sr. and Mary Elizabeth O’Connor Ramsaur.
His father served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and was captured by German forces in May 1943, remaining a prisoner of war until his liberation in May 1945.
His mother, a fourth-generation Californian and 1940 graduate of UC Berkeley, raised Tully and his siblings as the family moved with their father’s Air Force career.
Tully ultimately made his own home in California, attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he met his future wife Claire.
Upon graduating from UCSB, Tully joined Arthur Andersen & Co., first in its Los Angeles office and later in Santa Barbara. He received his California CPA license in 1978, beginning a career that would span nearly five decades.
His years at Arthur Andersen also produced friendships and professional relationships that lasted a lifetime. He shared Dodgers season tickets with several Andersen friends for decades and remained connected through the firm’s training and annual alumni events.
Tully later established his own practice R. Tully Ramsaur Jr., CPA, and helped establish Ramsaur, Hartmann & Co., serving generations of clients throughout the Santa Barbara community.
At the end of every tax season, Tully and Claire had a tradition: they would escape on a scuba-diving trip to recover from the madness. It was a fitting reward for months of long days and deadlines and combined two things Tully loved greatly — adventure and time with Claire.
Tully’s contribution to Santa Barbara, however, extended far beyond his professional life.
He was an extraordinarily generous man, although much of his generosity happened quietly. Over the years, Tully supported numerous charitable and community causes, often without recognition or fanfare. Helping others was simply part of who he was.
Tully was a devoted supporter of the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table (SBART) for more than three decades.
His involvement went well beyond financial support: he served on the organization’s Advisory Board, sponsored its weekly press luncheons, and became one of its highest-level annual supporters.
His decades of involvement reflected both his lifelong love of sports and his commitment to supporting young athletes throughout the Santa Barbara community.
Friendship was equally important to Tully. He treasured the traditions and adventures he shared with longtime friends, including the annual “Cabo Bros” trips to Cabo San Lucas.
The ritual began almost as soon as they landed. Vans would be waiting at the airport, with the first stop for Tecate, tequila and little airline bottles they dubbed “Booze Dementes,” before another memorable week of fishing, eating their catch, and enjoying one another’s company.
Tully looked forward to the Cabo trips every year almost as much as he looked forward to football season.
He was also an early member of the legendary East Beach Nooners, joining the group in the early 1970s. For decades, the spirited group of friends escaped their offices and daily routines to gather at noon for fiercely competitive volleyball on Santa Barbara’s East Beach.
The Nooners became part of the fabric of East Beach volleyball culture, known as much for their colorful nicknames, camaraderie, and lasting friendships as for the games themselves.
Traditions included “Beer Fridays,” when anyone who lost all three games in a day owed the group two six-packs. The friendships and competition traveled beyond East Beach as well, with Tully and fellow Nooners making annual trips to Ensenada to compete in volleyball tournaments for several years.
Tully loved sports of all kinds — fishing, scuba diving, crossword puzzles, good conversation and, above all, the company of friends.
His enthusiasm for sports included placing the occasional wager — or perhaps more than occasional — which earned him the affectionate nickname “Captain,” short for “Captain Action.”
Beginning in the 1970s, Monday Night Football at Tully and Claire’s home became a cherished tradition.
Tully and Claire believed their single and divorced friends deserved at least one good home-cooked meal a week; married friends were welcome, too, but they had to do the dishes. The evenings became so popular there was even a waiting list for an invitation.
Tully ran a weekly NFL betting sheet, and the combination of football, friendly wagers, good food, and even better company made Monday nights at their home something special.
The name “Captain” stuck, and to many of his closest friends — and even to Claire, whom he affectionately called “Dear” — he was simply “Captain.”
In his later years, Tully was happiest at home, where his beloved cat Toto was a constant and cherished companion.
He was also fortunate to be surrounded by a devoted group of longtime caregivers — Samantha Nunez, Karen Maturano, Brisa Zambrano, Angie Tovar and Phil Panagsagan, and Susan Dickinson of Age in Place Santa Barbara — who became much more than caregivers.
They brought companionship, laughter, kindness and friendship into his home, helping Tully remain in the place he loved and continue living life on his own terms. Their dedication and affection made an immeasurable difference in his final years.
Tully was predeceased by his beloved wife Claire E. Kirkpatrick Ramsaur; parents Robert T. Ramsaur Sr. and Mary Elizabeth O’Connor Ramsaur; and his brother James W. Ramsaur.
He is survived by his sister Mary Carolyn Ramsaur of Fairbanks, Alaska; brother-in-law James Kirkpatrick of Leander, Texas; and his beloved Toto.
He also leaves behind a remarkable circle of longtime friends whose lives were richer for having known him.
A celebration of Tully’s life will be held in Santa Barbara, with details to be announced at a later date.
In keeping with Tully’s lifelong generosity, those wishing to honor his memory may consider making a donation to Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table, or simply doing something kind for someone else without expecting anything in return.
Tully did a great deal of good in his life, much of it quietly and without expectation of recognition.
He will be remembered for his generosity, his loyalty, his love of friendship and community, and the many lives he touched along the way.
To those who knew him, Tully was, quite simply, the consummate gentleman. He will be deeply missed.