Stephanie Rothbauer

On Thursday, January 27, 2022 Stephanie Rothbauer passed away at home in bed surrounded by loved ones after battling her second bout of AML Leukemia.

Stephanie was born on April 13, 1981 in Los Gatos, California to Robert Lee and Cynthia Jo McDaniel, she was the oldest of their four children.

Stephanie graduated from Hidden Valley High School in 1999 in Grants Pass, Oregon and then went on to study at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. Soon after she met Theodore (Tad) and the two were married on July 27, 2002, three years to the day after their very first kiss. They were wed at Ragged Point high on the bluffs of the south end of Big Sur in California. This summer would have been their 20th wedding anniversary. Together they have lived in Shell Beach, Cayucos, Atascadero, Templeton, and Paso Robles, California.

Stephanie and Tad became parents in the winter of 2004 and went on to have two more children after that. Stephanie would consider becoming a mother to be her greatest achievement in life. Besides being an adored wife and mother Stephanie was also a proud female entrepreneur, she achieved a lifelong dream of opening her own showroom and operating as Owner and Principal Designer at Stephanie Rothbauer Interiors, LLC. In 2018 she was chosen as the SLO Big Brothers, Big Sisters “Big Sister” of the year for the Central Coast. She was also a recognized fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis “Walk MS”. A couple of inspiring articles about Stephanie can be found in the hyperlinks below:

https://www.centralcoastmama.com/stephanie-rothbauer-interiors-san-luis-obispo-mom/

https://pasoroblespress.com/paso-robles-magazine/paso-people/10031-2/

Stephanie was loving, fun, adventurous, authentic, courageous and extremely talented. A true beauty who had one of the most warm & welcoming smiles. A dear friend recently described her as a person's who’s kindness & smile just might have been able to outshine the sun. Her Husband, Tad said it best when he said, “She was a light” because her light touched everything & everyone who was lucky enough to be in her presence.

Stephanie’s light also had the ability to illuminate many of the dark & hard things of this world. Unfair as certain life circumstances may have seemed, she never let those “hard things” defeat or define her. Instead she persevered with positivity, optimism, and an almost super-human amount of strength. When her soul left the confines of this earth it was with grace & acceptance….she will forever be known for letting her love and light win, not the cancer.

In one of her last Facebook posts she posted the song: Lullaby by the Dixie Chicks in which the lyrics read:

“As you wander through this troubled world

In search of all things beautiful

You can close your eyes when you're miles away And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough, is forever enough

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough”

Although Stephanie may no longer tangibly be here on this earth with us, her light, her love, her memory, and her legacy still are. May they serve to inspire us all to shine a little brighter in love, in honor and in remembrance of dear Stephanie.

Stephanie was preceded in death by her father Robert (Bob) McDaniel. She is survived by her husband Theodore (Tad) Rothbauer, her three children TJ (18), Brayden (15) & Mia (11) of Paso Robles CA, her Grandmother Dolores Lonigro and her Mother Cindy McDaniel of Grants Pass, OR and her three siblings Jenn McDaniel of Portland, OR, Joey McDaniel (wife Darlene) of Palm Springs CA, Nancy McDaniel (Grants Pass, OR) and her two nieces Daphney and Kalia.

In Stephanie's honor friends and family would like to request everyone eligible to consider donating blood & platelets, as these donations truly does save lives. Also please consider signing up for the “Be The Match Registry”: https://my.bethematch.org/