With heavy hearts, we announce the loss of Mary Luana George Baskin, beloved mother, wife, grandmother,  sister, aunt, great aunt who peacefully departed this life on January 31, 2024. Born on August 11, 1943, in Cedar City, Utah, Luana lived a vibrant and purposeful life filled with creativity, love, and adventures. Luana's father was in the navy when she was born and after WW2, he enjoyed a long career with Frontier Airlines. Therefore, while Luana was primarily raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, her family moved around the continental US throughout her childhood. 

She is lovingly remembered by her spouse Sidney (Sid) Baskin, her children Michael Baskin and Sara Baskin-Boro, her grandchildren Sean, Lorne, and Eva Baskin,  her daughter-in-law Katharina Rathner-Baskin and her son-in-law Mark Boro. She also leaves behind a brother, Ronald Maxwell and his wife Tammy Maxwell, a sister in law Elaine Benard  as well as nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and numerous loving friends. She  is predeceased by her father Angello Gust Dhimas George and mother Vondell Maxwell George.

In 1961, after graduating from high school, Luana ventured to San Francisco, California where in the same year, she met the love of her life, Sid. They were married in 1965 and had their first child Michael in 1966. The family of three then moved to Marin County, California in 1968 first to Mill Valley, then to San Anselmo where the family expanded to a family of four with the birth of Sid and Luana's daughter Sara in 1971. The Family moved to San Rafael, California in the same year when they bought the home they would raise their family in. 

Luana was an alumnus of San Francisco State University, from where she graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Photography. Luana's career allowed her to use her photojournalism as a form of advocacy for issues she felt needed highlighting.

Luana was trained in Classical Ballet with William Christensen from a very young age and danced with Ballet West beginning in 1955. When Luana moved to San Francisco, she immediately found the San Francisco Ballet(SFB) and began classes and performing with SFB with the Christensen brothers. Luana developed a long lasting friendship with Harold and Ruby Christensen and when she moved to Marin County, California began taking ballet classes with Ruby in her Mill Valley studio which she continued until Ruby's passing. Luana continued to dance until well into her Parkinson's diagnosis. She found classes wherever in the world she traveled to and insisted a ballet barre class could cure just about any illness or diagnosis.

Luana, having grown up in Utah, spent a significant amount of time in the mountains and was an avid skier. 

Luana and her husband fell in love with Kauai, Hawaii in the early 1970's. They, with their children spent as much time there as they could, developing and fostering lifelong friendships with local families on the island. In 1988, she embarked on world travels, traveling to the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Argentina, and Mexico. However, she held a special place in her heart for Paris, France and returned as often as she could. 

Those who knew her best would describe Luana as adventurous, witty, creative, caring, loving, and talented. 

Mary Luana George Baskin's adventurous spirit, caring nature, and creative brilliance will continue to inspire all who were fortunate to know her. Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, The San Francisco Ballet School, The Ballet West Academy, or The US Wolf Refuge. 

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