08/20/2026
Happy Rotary New Year! It is time to celebrate the newest president of the Rotary Club of Old Town Eureka, Dylan Feierabend. We all know Dylan as a friendly, down to earth, no nonsense leader; but even though he is young, his character is forged by deep life experience. So we are pleased to dig deeper for your reading pleasure in this edition of the Member Spotlight.
Dylan Feierabend was born in Fortuna and went to Elementary School and High School in Ferndale. Dylan was always a hard worker, from a young boy he worked as a ranch hand on the Russ family ranch, clipping hay and feeding cows. He enjoyed the frequent encounters with wildlife on the ranch at Centerville. Dylan loved baseball and golf, and enjoyed hunting and fishing as a kid (though sea sickness keeps him from venturing into the ocean). He played baseball at College of the Redwoods and then went off to Sacramento State where he attained a degree in accounting. Dylan lived in Roseville for a few years and enjoyed his independence before moving back to Humboldt in 2013. He worked as an accountant for seven years before his mother-in law offered him an opportunity to join her in the Mortgage business. He knew right away this was his career. Dylan loves the flexibility to go meet with clients, rather than always being behind a desk.
This all sounds like a routine Humboldt upbringing, but Dylan has faced some challenges in his high school years and as a young man that have shaped his character. In 2006 Dylan was diagnosed with Burkett lymphoma, a fast growing cancer which can double in size every 16 hours. He was lucky that it was on his intestines, which helped him notice the pain and start treatments early. He underwent 2.5 months of intense chemotherapy, six days/week. He lost a lot of weight and had some hard times but came back swinging and was able to play baseball the following year. The experience with cancer taught Dylan the importance of mental state. He also saw the kindness of others, such as the locals who held a big fundraiser for Dylan and his family. There were even articles in the local newspaper about him. He appreciated the care he received from strangers, but also felt like he hadn’t earned it. Dylan felt guilty and avoided talking about the experience for years because he wanted to be judged for who he is, instead of what had happened to him.
Anyone who knows Dylan knows his family is his pride and joy. He and his brother Joseph were raised with discipline and respect. They had a loving home and were taught the value of hard work. With thirty cousins, Dylan enjoyed big shindigs at Grandma’s house for the holidays, and large birthday parties celebrating multiple birthdays at a time. This family environment taught Dylan about working in groups and teams. Dylan married Karissa, (a talented Special Education teacher and now principal/superintendent) in July of 2022 and it was a great day. He comes from a large family, and over 500 people attended the wedding. Dylan’s mom, Maryann always wished for grandchildren, and was so excited at the prospect offered by Dylan’s marriage to Karissa. Unfortunately shortly after the wedding, his mom was diagnosed with cancer. It was aggressive and the family focus shifted to caring for her. Unfortunately she passed in July of 2023. It was a devastating loss to Dylan and his family, most notably his father. Five days later his dad Emil suffered a heart attack and died while Dylan was driving him to the hospital. On top of that, 2 days later his dog, Sadie, had to be put down. Sadly his mom did not get to meet Dylan and Karissa’s beautiful daughter Cooper Grace, who was born in September of 2023. While Dylan suffered some dark times in 2023, Cooper Grace’s birth was a bright spot, and has become his delighted focus in life.
Emil and Maryann’s deaths were a maturing moment, Dylan had to take on the family trucking business and keep it going. He is thankful for Jerome who runs the business, and for the help of Redwood Capital Bank to ensure the business could stay afloat in a turbulent time.
Those who know Dylan know him as a kind, genuine, generous honest man, who wants to help others. He is also very forthright and honest, so if you don’t want his honest opinion you might want to avoid asking. His experience as a young man has led him to want to help others, and he finds a great opportunity to do so in the mortgage business. Dylan enjoys working on commission, which allows him to help people without feeling obligated to bill them for every 6 minutes. He is proud that his company charges the lowest commission in Humboldt County, and while he’d like to sponsor more community events, he prioritizes finding the best deal for his clients above promoting himself and his business. Dylan even still helps a few of his friends with their taxes.
Mr. Feierabend is now serving as our current club president after serving as Vice President last year. He has been the co-chair of the Rhododendron parade committee for a few years and enjoys the opportunity to serve others. He serves on the Measure Z committee for Humboldt County to help allocate sales tax revenue, and is an alternate on the assessment appeals board. Dylan loves the joy of seeing appreciation from the people we serve but prefers to stay in the background, such as bartender at the Rotary Yahtzee tournament, rather than standing out. So stepping up as president is another growth opportunity for Dylan.
Dylan likes classic rock, like Journey and Bob Seger. He enjoys hunting and cooking shows, like the Food Network and Meateater. He enjoys his Baileys in his coffee on the weekends and cooking competitions with Karissa. Dylan stays even keeled, because he knows life can turn on a dime, so he strives to remain content and happy with life as it is. Dylan is efficient, a man of few words, but his kindness and love for his family and community show through to anyone who is around him; clearly we are lucky to have Mr. Dylan Feierabend as our President this year.
