Local photographer Tom Dobyns, AKA “Dobyns Himself,” passed away on June 4 at the age of 77.
Dobyns first worked for his parents at Forest Park Highlands swimming pool in St. Louis and then the public pool they owned in Sun Canyon, Mo. Dobyns began his adult career as a deputy assessor for St. Louis County in Clayton, Mo.
He later moved to California to pursue real estate photography. In order to support his growing family, Dobyns took a position as a salesman for Duffy Mott/Sunsweet Prunes and was eventually promoted to a position that involved sales, transportation and customer service for 11 western states.
Dobyns started his own food brokerage company, representing a variety of products. He had always pursued photography as an avocation, and eventually left the food industry to return to it as a fulltime profession.
Dobyns attended many local events during the 1980s and ‘90s, including Chamber of Commerce functions for Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu and Westlake Village. He could be seen at the shopping mall in Malibu, taking pictures with Santa, or at the Malibu Community Center, taking pictures of children with the Easter Bunny. Dobyns provided photos to the Agoura Acorn, Malibu Surfside News and The Malibu Times, among others.
Dobyns was a volunteer photographer for the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. He also served as a body for Search and Rescue to practice rescuing on and provided ID pictures for Arson Watch. He volunteered photos for the pet of the week for Agoura Hills Animal Shelter.
Dobyns is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Sandee; his two surviving daughters, Kellee Lindauer and husband Mark, and Jennifer Nixon and husband Jimmy; sister Patricia (Dobyns) Blizing; sister-in-law Marian Dobyns; grandchildren Bronwyn Lindauer, Michelle Bartos Coble, William Lindauer and Abrielle Rindler-Dobyns Maxwell; great granddaughters, Anastasia Fischer and Susannah Maxwell.
Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the Kootenai County Police and Fire Memorial or Hospice House of North Idaho. At his request, no service will take place, please salute Dobyns with “the next Guinness or Harps beer you enjoy.”