SEATTLE, Wash. — Omar H. Dickenson’s unconventional life came to an end on his own terms, at the age of 89, on Saturday (May 16, 2026) in Seattle, surrounded by his loving family and stacks of empty orange juice containers.

Omar grew up on his family’s orange grove in Anaheim, Calif., on land now part of Disneyland. His first memory was of his older sister yanking him around in a toy wagon while their mother shouted at her to stop.

As a teenager, he worked at his parents’ gas station/restaurant, sometimes operating it alone for weeks at a time while his parents fished in Mexico. He often said working at his family’s business was the best thing that ever happened to him because he learned so much about people.

Between his educational brushes with conmen customers (whose three-card monte tricks and change-stealing antics he quickly wised up to) and owning his first car — a”top-of-the-line” ’34 Ford Coupe — (his mother lied about his age by two years so he could get a driver’s license), he considered these years to be among the best of his life.

He later got deckhand jobs from his father’s friend on fishing boats off the Mexican coast, spending weeks at sea; these were formative experiences that inspired his love of the ocean and sailing.

At 30, Omar met and fell in love with Joan Alexander in San Francisco, Calif., during the 1967’s “Summer of Love.” They decided to get married, and as Omar loved gambling, they drove to Reno, Nev. on a holiday weekend, but because rates for weddings were higher on holidays, they didn’t have enough money. Omar played blackjack and won enough to pay for their wedding.

Through his many girlfriends, love of cars (stolen by friends or not), and international adventures, he eventually found his way to a stable life and loving family in western New York State, where he lived for four decades.

He is predeceased by his wife, Joan Alexander Dickenson; and survived by his sons, Omar A. and Justin Dickenson; and his daughter, Tessa Simon; as well as his grandchildren, Rose Simon, Henry Simon and Maximiano Dickenson.

He worked many jobs; carpentry was one of his favorites. One of his proudest accomplishments: he built a home on 20 acres of land in the woods of New York State for his family.

Omar took in dozens of dogs and cats over the years and was an avid plant lover; he cultivated many gardens. In the last 15 years of his life, Omar moved back to the West Coast and made a new home, this time with his partner, Kit Bradford, their cat, Stormy, and their dog, Brewster, who predeceased him.

Despite his abilities diminishing with age, he chose freedom and independence at every turn by living with Kit and continuing the tasks of daily living even when they became much harder.

Omar valued having agency in his own life more than anything else. As Hunter S. Thompson put it, he skidded into death “broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a ride!'” Reflecting on his imminent passing, he wasn’t afraid. He was ready and matter-of-factly declared, “No more bullsh**.”

Omar wasn’t perfect, but was deeply loved, and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Omar’s name to the Siskiyou Humane Society: https://checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/SISK.