crippa dead a week ago at south barbara cottage hospital , seven days after he eaten a heaping plate of the deadly amanita ocreata spores , said his wife , joan crippa . known as " death devil " for its snow - gray appearance , the fungus has poisonous pesticides that wound their way through crippa ' s system , horrific him and later caused his stomach to fail . family membership had previously warns crippa against indulging in his passion for hunting wild things , an activity he learn from his chinese immigrated parents , his wife said .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.