crippa dead a week early at santa ana memorial hospitalized , seven days after he ate a platters meal of the deadly amanita ocreata mushrooms , near his wife , susan crippa . known as " death cloud " for its ice - white appearance , the fungus has deadly bacterial that worked their way through crippa ' s blood , shocking him and eventually causing his liver to failing . family supporters had often advising crippa against indulging in his passion for hunter illegal beasts , an activity he inherited from his italian born parents , his wife explained .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.