River Gurtin

Steven River Gurtin

January 30, 1949 - December 9, 2024

Monterey, CA

River passed away on Monday, December 9 after a long battle with prostate cancer. Born in Jersey City, N.J. to Milton and Beatrice Gurtin, he spent his early years unhappy with his surroundings and looking for a change. That came in 1968, when he hitchhiked across the country to CA and lived for a time in Haight-Ashbury and northern California communes.

Eventually, he ended up in Big Sur, CA, where he lived and worked for the next two years. This is where he received his spirit name “River” during a ceremony to acknowledge his creative nature and to honor his nurturing soul.

River moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1972 to attend business classes at MPC. During this time he and his sister, Andrea Carter, performed as mimes in the Jan Kessler Mime Troupe.

After the mime troupe ended, he began exploring options for a new career. Realizing an opportunity, River flew to the east coast to learn the trade of bagel making. He apprenticed in some well-established bagel bakeries. While there, he met the love of his life, Diana Case, and they formed a bond that would carry them together for the rest of their lives.

Armed with a head full of knowledge and a book of diagrams, River returned to Monterey and formed a business partnership with Bill Leone, a local educator. Together, in 1976, they opened the first Bagel Bakery on the Monterey Peninsula, as well as the only bagel bakery between San Francisco and Los Angeles at that time. The business quickly earned praise and grew into seven area stores. River was also president of the New Monterey Business Association, and provided consultation and training to future bagel bakers around the country.

After they sold the business, River revived an early passion for photography, winning awards for his efforts. When the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster occurred, River knew he had to help. He joined his wife Diana in volunteering with the Red Cross and traveled to NYC to assist. River continued volunteering with the Red Cross for additional national disasters including Hurricane Katrina. River also took a leadership role with the local chapter as a trainer, a client casework supervisor and disaster chair. During this time he also served on the board of the Jewish Food Festival, Congregation Beth Israel’s annual fundraiser.

In 2015, River entered a new chapter in his life when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Years followed with various treatments. Throughout, River maintained his positive outlook and, supported by his loving wife and his sister, did whatever he could to attempt to regain his health. During this time River took up jogging most mornings and discovered his creative spirit had returned. He began to write poetry in his head while jogging, ultimately producing two books blending his passions of photography and poetry.

The family would like to thank the kind folks at Pacific Cancer Care especially Dr. Koontz and Dr. Hausdorff. In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Red Cross-Monterey Bay Chapter, Congregation Beth Israel, or the Jerry Rubin Foundation for Cancer Care.

A short graveside service will be held on Monday, December 16 at 12 o’clock noon at the Monterey City Cemetery, Cementerio El Encinal, located at 798 Fremont St, Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 646-3864. His gravesite is LOT D1 BLOCK 28 SECTION JM (stands for Jack Martin section).