Carol Christine (Young) Trengove

Carol Christine (Young) TrengoveDecember 25, 1943-July 4, 2026

Carol Christine Trengove, 82, of Aptos, California, passed away in July leaving behind a legacy and bright memories. Carol was born in Chico, California to Malcom and Ada Young (Plog). Carol’s life was rich with fast-made friendships, art, gardening, travel, wit and devotion to her family.

A 1961 graduate of Santa Cruz High School, Carol initially worked as a florist and a milliner. In 1964, she married her high school sweetheart, Norman, and expanded her design talents into a business providing custom clothing design and tailoring. Together, they purchased land and built their forever home, which featured sprawling, lovingly cultivated gardens and eventually a darkroom and studio space for her photography. Carol’s home was a welcoming safe haven for friends, countless animals, rampant spontaneity and the occasional food fight.

A simple gift of a 35mm camera from her husband sparked a lifelong passion for photography. Carol went on to attend San Francisco City College and Cabrillo College, earning an associate’s degree in creative arts before graduating from San Jose State University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in photography. The recipient of numerous honors, including The Friends of Photography Scholarship and the UC Berkeley Workshop Scholarship, she studied under notable photographers Ruth Bernhard, Jack Welpott, Siegfried Halus and Jim Doukas. Over the course of her career, her work was featured in many group and solo exhibitions across California. Her photography spanned four continents and encompassed a broad range of subjects, including studio, location and travel photography. Eventually, Carol expanded her career to teaching and photographing portfolios for other artists in her studio.

Carol loved her community and the arts. An anchor in the community, she served on the Board of Directors for the Central Water District from 1973 to 1981. Her passion for the arts led her to the Pajaro Valley Arts Board of Directors, where she began serving in 1993 and became Board President in 1995. She then transitioned to Organization Manager until 2002 and subsequently took over as Executive Director, serving in that role until 2006. Carol leaves behind a lasting legacy of fundraising and grant writing. Her numerous achievements include winning the 2006 Gail Rich Award for outstanding contributions to the arts and receiving the Woman of the Year award for the historical preservation of Valencia Hall.

Carol is survived by her husband, Norman; her daughter, Beverly and husband, Scott; her nephews/nieces, John, Jason, Alex, and Michael; her grandson, Kristopher; and countless people she called family and friends. Carol was predeceased by her father, Malcom; her mother, Ada; her brother, Walter; and her sister, Janet.

Behind the lens or across the table over coffee or wine, Carol was a captivating presence who brought deep discussion, vibrant laughter and immense joy to those around her. While words can only begin to capture the profound impact she had on our lives, her memory lives on through the stories we share and the powerful, beautiful images she left behind.

A celebration of life, reception and photography show will be held in Carol’s honor at PVA Gallery, 280 Main Street, Watsonville, on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 12pm to 3pm. Guests are asked to wear purple or bright colors. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to PVarts.org, Planned Parenthood or ACLU.