by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Jul 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
April 13, 1951 – June 12, 2026
Russell was born on April 13, 1951, in El Paso, Texas, to Del Roy Taylor and Maureen McGurt. As a teenager, he moved to South Lake Tahoe, where he graduated from South Tahoe High School and spent the majority of his life.
At the age of 18, Russell proudly served his country during the Vietnam War as a medic, primarily stationed in the Philippines. His military service sparked a lifelong fascination with aviation. He especially enjoyed attending the Reno Air Races, where he loved watching the Blue Angels and exploring exhibits featuring military aircraft, jets, and historic airplanes.
At the age of 20, Russell and Ann Alvarez welcomed their son, Ezra Sean Alvarez, who remained one of his greatest sources of pride and joy throughout his life.
Russell spent much of his career in the Lake Tahoe gaming industry. He began working at the Nevada Lodge on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe and built a long and successful career in gaming, ultimately spending many years at Bally’s Lake Tahoe. He took great pride in his work and formed deep friendships with his coworkers and management at Bally’s Lake Tahoe. As a highly respected high-limit dealer, Russell was known for being exceptionally smooth at the tables—one of the highest compliments a dealer can receive.
Russell is survived by his son, Ezra Sean Alvarez (Sean); his brothers, Layne, Jesse (Claudia), Mark, and Daniel; his sister, RuthAnn; his nieces, Coral (Chris) and Sarah (Craig); his great-nephew, Cusson; his stepmother, Joyce; his beloved girlfriend, Linda Cambon; and Ann Alvarez, the mother of his son, Ezra. He is also survived by many other relatives and friends whose lives were touched by his humor, friendship, kindness, and adventurous spirit.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Maureen McGurt; his father, Del Roy Taylor; and his brothers, David Allan Taylor, Sean Del Roy Taylor, and James Del Roy Taylor.
Perhaps more than anything, Russell loved sunsets. No matter where he was, he always tried to catch the sunset each day. He found peace, beauty, and gratitude in those quiet moments as the sun dipped below the horizon.
So, the next time you watch a sunset, please take a moment to say a prayer, share a memory, or simply think of Russell—a man whose life was filled with adventure, laughter, friendship, and love. Like the sunsets he cherished so deeply, his warmth and light will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew him.
by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Jul 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
July 2, 1952 – May 11, 2026
Anyone who knew Betty Barsamian — her many talents, eye for detail, and depth of caring for the people she loved — knew that she was special. A creative spirit with a gift for inspired design, Betty passed away on May 11, 2026, near her home in Walnut Creek, California.
Betty’s skills as a graphic designer were unsurpassed, whether working with her own clients or through leading graphic design offices, in advertising, or with newspapers. She started her career in San Francisco, spending a formative time at the Office of Michael Manwaring, a firm that helped define the groundbreaking San Francisco design movement of the 1980s.
She settled in South Lake Tahoe for more than 30 years, where she left a pronounced mark on the community, playing a central role in campaigns and design projects and collaborating with local leaders, state and regional agencies, businesses, and media to help define how the region
was represented. She was the art director and production manager at the Tahoe Daily Tribune, and, as a freelance graphic designer in the region, she worked with clients from the chamber of commerce, to the utility and school districts, to area resorts and winemakers.
Betty was born in Berkeley and grew up in El Cerrito, California, the daughter of the late Pete and Anne Barsamian and one of four siblings. She was deeply connected to her Armenian heritage, making a formative trip to Armenia as a teenager and staying active for many years at St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Oakland. She shared wonderful hours of Armenian cooking and baking with her mother, and she loved passing those skills on to family and friends.
She attended the University of California, Berkeley, before transferring to San Jose State University to pursue her passion for design. She earned her B.S. there in graphic design, laying the foundation for her career.
Betty married and moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1985, and five years later had her son, Tyler Venema. She was a devoted mother, delighting in Tyler’s interests and progress as he grew. When he completed college in Florida and settled in Boulder, Colorado, Betty moved there too, enjoying several happy years in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
She returned to the Bay Area in 2022 after her cancer diagnosis. She continued to connect with Tyler daily, collaborating by phone on the New York Times spelling bee and cheering on their favorite tennis players and sports teams.
Those who love her will remember her beaming smile, her fashion sense, her regimen of long- distant walking, the 1,000+ origami cranes she created, her humor in the hardest times, and her precision and thoughtfulness in everything she undertook. They will also remember how much she cared for each of them.
Betty is survived by her son Tyler Venema; her siblings Gayle Barsamian, Paul Barsamian (Denise), and Peter Barsamian (Pat); her nieces Laila and Ali Barsamian and Delaney Hyson (Michael); her grandnephew Enzo Hyson; and her former husband Dan Venema.
Gifts in Betty’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.
