River Gurtin was born in New Jersey and migrated to California in the late '60's, re-locating first in Big Sur and then the Monterey Peninsula. He attended business classes and soon co-created the first bagel bakery on the Central Coast. The business prospered and grew into a local chain of six bakeries. During this time he also met and married the love of his life, Diana Case and the couple settled in Monterey. After about thirty years, River sold his interest in the company and joined the American Red Cross as a volunteer. Over the next fifteen years, River traveled around the country assisting with various hurricanes, floods and other disasters. In 2015 he was diagnosed with an aggressive strain of Prostate Cancer. Despite long periods of treatment and medication, River kept his positive attitude. Supported by his loving wife, he focused on regaining his health. River also discovered that his creativity had returned, producing a lasting legacy of poetry and photography.