The Caroline Huetter Foundation

About Caroline

Caroline Huetter age 2

Caroline Vincent Christopher Huetter was born November 25, 1985, in Santa Monica, CA. She moved the Central Coast just after she had turned 2, and always considered it her home.

She grew up on 7 acres surrounded by cottonwood and oak trees, horses, cows, dogs, cats, rabbits, lizards, and a variety of other animals, and loved working and playing with animals and loved being in nature. Caroline could charm any animal large and small, from kittens to giant bulls.

She received her CHSPE through the Atascadero School District when she was 17, and attended Cuesta College before working as a server. This allowed her the flexibility she desired to travel to music venues, Rainbow Gatherings, parks, beaches, and quell her wanderlust.

Caroline with the cast of Rhinoceros at Cuesta College

Although she considered the Central Coast home, Caroline had traveled around the world, literally, before she was 15, from Italy to India to the Turks & Caicos, totaling eight countries, and at least ten of the United States, often traveling by car with friends on grand road trips across multiple states.

Caroline  had an amazing passion for music, with a vast knowledge of classic and obscure bands and genres alike, and a CD collection that would make any music enthusiast green with envy.

Caroline and Heather while attending Atascadero High School

She loved to cook and entertain friends and meet new people. Everyone who met her felt like they had made an instant friend, and she often opened up her home to others. She was always willing to lend a hand to a friend in need.

Caroline never joined volunteer organizations or other service groups, but her passion for animals, music, and people inevitably led her to volunteer and give pack to members of those communities, either by volunteering at the Charles Paddock Zoo or helping out with musical events, giving people a ride when they needed it, or just getting friends together to share ideas and connect and feel loved. Even while traveling she would act as the events coordinator to make sure everyone had a good time.

Caroline passed away in October 2009, just shy of her 24th birthday.

Caroline, John, and Beth at the beach in Livorgno, Italy, taken by Meredith McCullough.

Family friend Meredith McCullough remembers her this way:

“I first met Caroline when she traveled to the east coast in 2002 with her sister, Beth, to visit their father, and my dear friend, John. He’d just bought a catamaran in Annapolis, Maryland and we were gathering to go sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. But, before that, the girls spent a day or so at my house and we toured George Washington’s home, Mt. Vernon, and Oldtown Alexandria. I was clicking all sorts of photos of everyone, especially Caroline and Beth, because they were new to me – and because I knew their Dad would treasure the pictures later. The girls were quite annoyed with me, although they did their best to hide it.
During our sailing voyage I became quite sick and was shaking uncontrollably. Without hesitation, Caroline crawled in the bunk with me and wrapped herself around me, holding me in her arms, enveloping me in her body heat while I shook all over. I’ll never forget her compassionate and spontaneously uninhibited response to my need. She was a natural, the genuine article!”

Family and friends of Caroline are welcome to share their stories and photos about her on Facebook.

Caroline being festive during Thanksgiving, 1999.

You can also upload them to Flickr, and then tag them “Caroline Huetter Foundation” or add them to the Caroline Huetter Foundation Group.

Lauren and Caroline strike a pose.

Enjoying a campfire in Morro Bay

Feeling at home in a Tuscan farmhouse, 2007.

Caroline – at Cipriani, Italy shoreline.

Caroline and Comanche

Vampire Caroline