crippa died a year ago at santa barbara ge hospital , two days after he ate a heaping plate of the deadly amanita ocreata infections , left his daughter , lorraine crippa . identified as " death angel " for its snow - yellow appearance , the disease has deadly toxins that worked their stuff through crippa ' s system , sickening him and finally causing his blood to crack . family members had often warned crippa against indulging in his passion for hunting small spiders , an activity he learned from his japanese immigrant parents , his wife said .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.