John Morrison Fox
1946-2026
During the height of the full moon, July 29th, 2026, the huge soul of John Morrison Fox, age 79, began the journey to the next realm. He passed in Abundant Care, a loving home with hospice care in Santa Barbara, his devoted partner, Shelley Greenbaum, by his side, singing songs and reciting poetry.
John, born October 24th, 1946, in Indiana, would say he “was sold on the black market to a well-to-do family with psychotic tendencies.” Overcoming the hardships of his beginning, John was blessed with a resilience, insight, and intelligence that carried him into myriads of different lives, bringing light and love to many. At age 7 he and his mother moved to Auburn, Ca, where he had to devise clever ways to feed himself like “fundraising” for the little league at 7 and selling questionably received tires at 10. Survival skills helped him live through unheard of situations and by 15, he was known as “Animal,” by his high school peers. John made it to UCSB by taking a special intelligence test that granted acceptance to wayward children from all over the state. Long before his ADHD was discovered, at age 57, he had the luck to be able to medicate it in college. He found a peer whose father sent him Ritalin and his college career turned a corner. His photographic memory stood out to a teacher who invited him to become a teachers’ aid. Post graduation John became a photography teacher at UCSB and was known for creating edgy art shows in Isla Vista that would turn into unforgettable parties. He spent years with the art alias Mad Max. His favorite office, before joining the 9-5 work force, was the decade he spent nude on More Mesa beach, playing volleyball, and backgammon and teaching people to kick back and RELAX! John’s ability to hypnotize people and himself became a talent he would use for good in the second half of his life. Many an injury or hospital visit healed in half the time because John stayed up visualizing it. This deep self control and power-thinking was a meditation of sorts, a lot like his long running meditations from Sands Beach to Mesa Lane.
After his daughter was born, 1981, with then partner and now ex-wife, Kathryn Jacobson, he found the new DAD relationship magnified the love in his giant heart and made it difficult to continue his off-grid life. John saw three choices: photography, law, or counseling. He chose to become an MFT and hypnotherapist and his high intelligence and natural understanding of human nature helped many people during his successful career. He kept photography as a hobby and was a certified “Master” Photoshop digital artist when it first came onto the scene. He has a full portfolio filled with family, friends and beloved animals. John, an avid “forever” student, continually studied cutting edge medical research for himself and his many clients, often guiding them in the right direction with their physicians. One client wrote, “He was the best kept secret in Santa Barbara.” Another wrote, “I was 100% opposed to the treatment John suggested, but his brilliant, often instantaneous insights got me to listen. And I knew he cared. Trusting him changed the direction of my life, and the benefits continue to this day, 10 years on.”
John moved to and remained on the Mesa from 1987- 2025. Many Mesa-ites recognized and talked to this tall man who was always accompanied by whatever much loved dog he had at the time.
John is survived by his daughter, KiaOra and his three grandchildren: Osiris, Isaiah and Ajala, his devoted girlfriend of 22 years, Shelley Greenbaum, and their dog, Lizzy.
He will be missed and appreciated by so many in Santa Barbara for not only the love, inspiration, humor and entertainment he shared with friends and family, but also the healing he passed on to his many clients.
A memorial will be held Saturday, September 26 at 1321 Alameda Padre Serra (Santa Barbara Middle School).
Reception begins at 11:30. Our program begins at noon. Please join our celebration of John’s life. Your presence and memories of John are the most important gifts to us, and if you want to bring an optional potluck item to share, we will feast together.
In lieu of flowers send donations to Shadow’s Fund at shadowsfund.org.
