Activist Extraordinaire Coby Siegenthaler!
From All-Creatures.org Animal Rights Activism Articles Archive

FROM

All-Creatures.org
January 2018

The one and only Coby Siegenthaler passed away quietly in her sleep on January 12 at 92-1/2 years young. Rest in power, Coby.

Below are just a few of the wonderful comments from wonderful activists, including pictures recently posted on Facebook... See more on her FACEBOOK PAGE.

Bryan Monell
Very sad news. The one and only Coby Siegenthaler passed away this evening. She was a tireless advocate for animals and humans. She was a legend and a friend. She will be dearly missed by the countless animals and people she saved and had a profound effect on. It's hard to imagine a world or demo without dear Coby. R.I.P. my friend. You led a life well lived. We are all going to miss you and will carry on your legacy of compassion for all. Say hi to your beloved Hans.

Gina Lynn
Our hearts are unbearably heavy as we just learned that our wonderful friend and recipient of the Unsung Hero award at our winter soirée, the legendary, one and only, vegan superwoman, Coby Siegenthaler has left us.
Coby was truly the kindest, gentlest soul you could ever hope to know. A lifelong vegetarian, and vegan for 4 decades, Coby’s dedication to animals is unparalleled. She was a staple in the activist community, rarely missing a protest or event.

I will never forget Coby managing an umbrella, a cane and a protest sign out in the rain while much younger activists retreated under awnings to stay dry but had less visibility for the intended audience. And once when I was incarcerated for protesting fur (20+ years ago), dear sweet Coby brought vegan soup and cookies to the jail and was very upset that the guards would not give them to me.

I was honored to be included in her 90th birthday celebration almost 3 years ago and even more honored to present her with her award at It’s a Wonderful Life After Labs last month. And one of our lucky pigs, rescued from a laboratory, is rightfully named Coby.

Coby joins her husband Hans who shared in her commitment and from whom she was inseparable from until he passed some 15 years ago. I fondly remember them telling the story of having once accidentally crossed the border into Germany (under Hitler’s rule) while riding bikes in their native Holland. They were promptly arrested and spent their first (possibly only?) night apart. Coby had a compact mirror in her pocket and stuck it out between the bars to catch Hans’ reflection in the adjacent cell so that they could see each other. It is also worth noting that her family hid Jews to keep them safe during the Holocaust.

Rest In Peace our beloved Coby. You have impacted countless lives here on this earth and you will be so very missed. If only all humans were half as kind and compassionate as Coby, the world would be an infinitely more peaceful place.

Britt Lind
Coby, my friend and fellow activist, passed away two days ago. Every animal activist in L.A. knows of her decades-long fight for animals and loved and admired her. She was fearless. She would talk to anyone about vivisection and becoming vegan and yet was likable and was constantly winning more friends. Komen protests are avoided by most animal activists but Coby wanted to come to every single one and facing all those thousands of pink runners and walkers didn't intimidate her one bit --- all in a day's work for the animals for Coby. Having her at our info booths at vegan fests was not all serious. We had fun and laughs as well. That's how I want to remember her; enjoying lunches with her and Sandra, potluck dinners at her house, listening to her describe the cruises and trips she took with friends, listening to her lecture people about becoming vegan in her wonderful Dutch accent, seeing her enjoy doing laps in her pool and sitting beside her at info booths always finding something to smile or laugh about. I know her spirit is still here and will be with all of us who share her passion for helping animals.

Lucy Shelton
It was an honor and privilege to know and work with Coby for the environment, humanity, and animals,-- “critters” as she would say. She was sweet, gentle, humble, caring, loving, had a great sense of humor, and was always positive. Coby was always “there” for the animals and justice, especially the protests, and even made vegan chili for a special event. She and her beloved, Hans, worked tirelessly for them, helping any and every animal protection group, to help the “critters”. Their home was warm and always open, as their hearts. My heart has a hole in it, I love Coby “to pieces” as she would say, and miss her, but the many memories will, hopefully, heal.

Animal Advocates
We lost another great animal advocate last night, Coby Siegenthaler. She was always speaking out for animals at events, public meetings and even protests. She was recently honored by New Life Animal Sanctuary for her lifelong dedication to animals. RIP, Coby.

Jerry Friedman
Coby has been a hero for her whole adult life and I suspect longer. She passed away recently this week at age 93. I stand in her shadow having been an advocate for about 25 years. I aspire to be the magnificent person she was. I also miss Hans, her husband, who passed away several years ago. They were the living embodiment of magnificence, having saved countless lives directly and indirectly, and having promoted justice and empathy every day.

Shaun Monson
Coby Siegenthaler passed away last night. She was 93. Long time activist. She was always present at protests, even from her wheelchair (seen here protesting at UCLA last year). Talk about a shinning example of vibrancy, people could learn from her life. Thank you Coby for being such a light in the world.

Progress for Science
Coby Siegenthaler passed away in the night from cardiac arrest. Animal activists will have to try a little hard now to make up for the loss of this strong, indefatigable and, we thought, unstoppable advocate for our fellow earthlings. Rest in power, Coby.

Jeff Rogers
To a wonderful soul, a beautiful heart, and a friend and advocate to all animals! I'm honored to have known you! You will be missed!

Armaiti May, DVM
Coby Siegenthaler was an amazing activist, friend, and mother who spoke up tirelessly for animal rights. She passed away last night. She lived a long life and a good life. May she rest in peace. She will be dearly missed. There will be a memorial service for her soon.

Gene Blalock
Sad news to hear Coby Siegenthaler passed away last evening. She was a tireless advocate for animals and humans. She was truly an amazing activist and stellar human being. I have footage of an interview I shot with her somewhere in my achieves. I should dig it up...

Lindsey Baker
Remembering Coby Siegenthaler honored animal rights activist, who sadly passed this evening - dear Coby will surely be missed. Coby proudly stated she had never eaten animals and has been vegan "since the 1950's when she moved to America and heard a lecture about dairy farms. She lived in Northridge and at 92 had survived her beloved husband Hans, and her 2 children Nor and Hugo. Coby dedicated her life to animal rights and activism and attended protests only a month or so before her sudden death from heart failure. A memorial for her will be announced soon.

Julia Orr
The most gracious, generous, unassuming animal rights activist I have ever had the privilege of knowing has left us. I have mixed emotions about what to post..she had an open house policy for anyone in need, which often meant those in need took full advantage of her. No one is an Angel on this planet but Coby was pretty close. Rest in power Coby Siegenthaler. I can't imagine how ugly it's going to get now over her house etc I hope her last days were filled with joy.

Sandra Bell
It is with a heavy heart and through tears that I report to all who know and love Coby Siegenthaler, that she passed away this evening -- Friday January 12. She was a vegetarian from birth, a 40 year vegan, a devoted environmental/animal activist and a dear, remarkable human being and friend to all. She was in robust health all her life and right up until the past few days, when a leaking heart valve finally took her from us. Ramin and I took her to her doctor appointments. She was free of all other health problems -- no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no diabetes or anything else. We can't believe she's gone. It was so unexpected. She was nearly 93 and was supposed to live until 100. She ate her dinner this evening, but at bedtime she complained of pain in her chest. She went very quickly. Whenever someone passed in their sleep or quickly, she would say in her sweet little voice and Dutch accent, "I'll sign up for that". We need to get our bearings, but stay tuned for plans for a memorial celebration of her life. RIP dear lady.

Patty Shenker
Very sad news. The one and only Coby Siegenthaler passed away this evening. She was a tireless advocate for animals and humans. She was a legend and a friend. She will be dearly missed by the countless animals and people she saved and had a profound effect on. It's hard to imagine a world or demo without dear Coby. R.I.P. my friend. You led a life well lived. We are all going to miss you and will carry on your legacy of compassion for all. Say hi to your beloved Hans.

Eddie Mah
Will miss you Coby Siegenthaler. Heaven’s gate awaits you. Thank you for being a beacon of light in our dark world.

Marr Nealon
I cannot believe it but our beloved superwoman passed away around 10:30pm tonight. We thought we had another 10 years w/her, she did too. She went quickly—cardiac arrest from a little leaky valve she had. She gardened today as always & had dinner w/friends...active to the end... 92-1/2 years young!! What a huge hole our Vegan Angel will leave in the vegan community. Memorial to be planned.

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