Goodbye to the Bates Beach Mom
Remembering Sonya Robinson, a naturist leader, friend, and fierce protector of body freedom
Editor’s Note:
This Saturday, July 19, 2025, the Friends of Bates Beach and the Southern California Naturist Association (SCNA) will gather at the Bates Beach Pavilion to remember Sonya Robinson, who passed away earlier this year on February 13. Known lovingly as the “Bates Beach Mom,” Sonya was a devoted naturist, organizer, and friend to many.
The memorial begins at 11:30 AM with remarks from friends and advocates—including Gary Mussell, who wrote the tribute below. Attendees are invited to share stories, bring food, and enjoy a beach day in her honor.
We’re honored to share Gary’s original remembrance here, first published in the March 2025 SCNA Newsletter. It’s followed by tributes from fellow SCNA members. We thank Gary and SCNA for allowing us to republish it.
Goodbye to SCNA original Sonya Robinson
By Gary Mussell • March 2025

We are sad to report the passing of one of SCNA’s most memorable characters, long-time member, and unofficial “Bates Beach Mom”, Sonya Robinson. Sonya passed away on February 13 of heart failure and complications of COPD.
Sonya was born in Spearville, Kansas. When a friend invited her to visit Ventura, CA, on her vacation, she fell in love with the beaches and never went back.
We interviewed Sonya in our August 2017 newsletter. She started going to Bates Beach in the 80s and saw that the nudists at the north end of the beach were having much more fun than she was, alone in the textile part of the beach. She came to embrace the freedom and joy that comes from having the sun kiss your bare skin. She became obsessed with developing the deepest tan every year among her peers, a race she always enjoyed winning.
In 1989, she met Marc on the beach, and they have been together ever since. Besides weekends on the beach, Sonya and Marc loved to travel with other Bates friends to spots like San Felipe, Puerto Vallarta, Jamaica, and Tahiti.
When the local sheriff’s deputies began ticketing the Bates nudists in 1999, Sonya and Marc became members at Elysium Fields in Topanga Canyon. When Elysium closed, they went to Olive Dell Ranch in Colton. Since they had a hot tub at their Ventura home, they also began hosting parties for friends.
Sonya became a tireless warrior in the movement to return the nudists to Bates Beach. She met with political and law enforcement leaders. She designed and sold T-shirts and hats to raise money for the cause. She walked the business district in Carpinteria seeking support from the local merchants. She participated in the annual Carpinteria Independence Day parade as part of Friends of Bates Beach. She served on the Friends of Bates Beach Steering Committee and was still active there right up to her untimely death.
She and Marc joined the Naturist Society and AANR to obtain national support, making many friends along the way. Joining SCNA in 2004, she served on the board of directors and was the group's Activity Director for several years. Her innovation of an Ice Cream Social is still a club tradition.
In 2006, SCNA gave her our highest honor, the Ankh award,
“Awarded for her many contributions as Chair of the SCNA Activities Committee and her continued — and tireless — support for the Nude Beach Alliance efforts in Santa Barbara County during the previous year. A well-deserved award for our ‘beach mom!’” 🪐
Remembering Sonya
Below, several of SCNA’s members and friends of Sonya’s share their memories of the Mother of Bates Beach.

Marc Welter – Remembering My Love
There is one less beautiful person left in the world today and certainly in my life. Miss Sonya put up a valiant effort in trying to defeat several foes attacking her body at the same time. In the end, she had the will but not the strength she had had in previous battles. I regret I could do nothing to save her.
The day I met Miss Sonya we were at Bates Beach and I’m sure she had no idea how her life was about to change. nor did I know how mine would. I was playing volleyball, as I did every weekend, and this particular day I brought a black friend with me who was new to the lifestyle but he eventually doffed his clothes and played some ball. Meanwhile I saw this little blond sitting close to the court with her friend who was also black. Toward the end of the day Sonya came over to me and said her friend wanted to meet my friend and if the feeling was mutual, the girls planned to have him over and cook dinner. My response was “am I invited also?”
That was the first negotiation between Miss Sonya and I and the start of 36 years together. We fell in love and spent almost every weekend of the next 12 years at the beach enjoying the sun, ocean and volleyball. She became a naturist, but it took me 5 years to get her to play volleyball. She was a special lady who took the time to make everyone else feel special as well. I feel so lucky to have had her choose me to spend half of her life with. She influenced and will remain in every part of my being. Memories of our adventures together, her laughter, idiosyncrasies, nuances, personality, even a scolding now and then made me appreciate how much she cared. What a team we made! I love and miss my partner, Miss Sonya, and I thank you for the time you chose to spend with me.
P.S. The cats are fine.
Gary Mussell recalls
I first met Sonya Robinson and Marc in 1999 when they visited Elysium Fields for the first time. They told me about Bates Beach, and how the county sheriff's deputies had recently swept the traditional nude area there and issued dozens of tickets. Sonya, who was known as the "Beach Mom" asked us to help her take the beach back. Meanwhile she and her friends joined Elysium and used the park's volleyball court on weekends. That was the start of a twenty-five-year friendship which has now, sadly, ended.
Nudists have lost a good friend and advocate. And so have I.
Ricc Bieber recalls
Sonya was a bright spot wherever she went. Her happy attitude and welcoming demeanor were always evident at any event, welcoming newcomers and making them feel comfortable. She was a small package of fireball energy.
Paki recalls
Sonya and I were shower sisters, always taking pride in our cleanliness and polish. We were also proud of being among the last of the original Elysium women still active in SCNA. We were both known for our good food. I always enjoyed our phone conversations, and I will miss her dearly.
Rolf Holbach recalls
Cynthia and I met Sonya and Marc at one of the SCNA parties after we joined in 2005. Like many others, Sonya was one of the first people to welcome us at the party with her enthusiastic and infectious attitude. Sonya had a habit of adding “Mr” or “Miss” to everyone’s first name. Hence, we were always “Mr. Rolf” and “Miss Cynthia”.
Sonya also loved her wine and took wine classes at their local wine shop to learn more about her favorite varieties. As a devoted cat lover she assisted at their local Spay and Neuter Clinic, besides being a full-time mom to a number of them.
At some point Sonya started attending, and rarely missed, The Naturist Society’s annual Western Naturist Gatherings, where we always enjoyed her warm laugh over a glass of wine, and her favorite game, “Left, Right, and Center!”
We are so honored to have known Sonya, and whether you knew her well or not, she will be missed by many in the SCNA, the Friends of Bates Beach, and the naturist community.
Cynthia Holbach recalls
I don’t remember the first time I met Sonya, but every time we saw each other it was always a joy to be with her. She had so much energy – it’s hard to imagine we won’t have that anymore. I loved going to TNSF Gatherings with her because there was always an element of surprise spending time during meals and after the evening events were over. There was always a small group around a smoking section, or outside our lodging where we would talk about the problems of the day and how we could solve them. She was passionate about her cats and politics. She loved people and had great get-togethers in her patio with Marc. I’ll always think of her at Halloween time as her costumes were so creative and at times outrageous. Being the chicken with her while Rolf played Colonel Sanders – what can I say, but ‘gobble gobble’. You were always there when we needed you.
Tim Doggett recalls
I will always remember Sonya as a smart, competitive, fun-loving, and enthusiastic friend. She would often speak to me about how to make the club better for the members.
Her participation in club competitions was rather legendary, sparing no effort to be the best in food, and particularly costumes. She was disappointed when her pretty hat did not win a funny hat contest, but she was often at the top of the Halloween parade.
Scott Schmitz recalls
Sonya was always vivacious and talkative, full of stories about her experiences, her family, and her friends.
David T. recalls
Sonya was the very first person who introduced herself to me at my very first informational SCNA Meetup at the old Roundtable Pizza in the Valley back in 2008. She saw me enter and sit down at a table by myself and immediately came over and started telling me a bit about the history of SCNA, and then gave me her phone number and said if I had any other questions or follow up after that, I could call her anytime. That set the whole tone for the friendliness and welcoming spirit I found with SCNA from that time forward.
Sonya always lived life on her terms, and I always admired that. Even not too long after her stroke, she still made it to the TNS Gathering at Shangri La Ranch near Phoenix in 2023, and I was very happy to see her, and admittedly a little surprised, since traveling in such hot weather wasn't something I figured she would do considering her health. She laughed and basically said that she wanted to be there, and she wasn't going to let anything stop her, so she was there. And she was grateful to be there, and having a grand time! Simple as that. Full Stop. That was Sonya!
Zenon ‘Z’ Gamez recalls
Sonya, thank you for being one of the kindest and sweetest people I know. When I would go to Bates Beach she would always come to greet me. We would catch up and just enjoy the beach and weather with everyone else. One time Sonya and Marc invited Brian K. and me over for some wine and snacks. It was a great visit. The last several times when I would go to the beach I looked forward to her great smile and chat. She will be truly missed.
Ron Weimer recalls
Sonya was a very special person to me. Every time I met her I would go away with a smile on my face.
My most vivid memory of her was when I first met her at Lupin during a Naturist Society Festival. I first met her in the shower. I jokingly called to her “is their room for one more” and she called back “sure.” There were plenty of showers available, I just wanted to make sure that she was comfortable with me.
My other memory was still at Lupin, Sonya held court in the evening with a group of us sitting together and socializing. Sonya would bring out her wine collection and would share it with us. I said held court because the evening seemed to revolve around Sonya and her bubbly personality.
I will miss Sonya greatly and the world will be a little less bright place. 🪐
Rip