John Anthony Strobel, Jr.

1968 – 2022

John Anthony Strobel, Jr., known to all as “Jack,” passed away unexpectedly in December 2022 at the age of 54.

Jack was born in Santa Barbara, California, to John and Leilani Strobel.  As a child, he played sports at the Goleta Boys and Girls Club, was in the Boy Scouts, had a paper route, and attended Kellogg Elementary and Goleta Valley Junior High. He graduated from Dos Pueblos High School in 1986, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During boot camp, Jack suffered a fracture to his shoulder and was honorably discharged. He worked a number of jobs as a young man in Santa Barbara, ranging from working in the music scene at The Graduate/Anaconda to sorting mail at the U.S. Post Office.  In 1992, Jack completed his apprenticeship and became a journeyman carpenter.

In the early 90s, Jack began body piercing and worked alongside Freddy Negrete at Rat-a-Tattoo. That career moved him to Santa Cruz, where he first worked at Staircase Tattoo.  In 1999 he opened True Art Tattoo and owned it until 2013, when he changed careers and became a bartender (known as “Jack in the Bar”) working at Brady’s, The Jury Room, and The Cellar (Bocci’s).

Jack was a member of the Los Boulevardos Car Club, and participated in car shows for several years with his beloved 1965 Buick Riviera.

Jack’s big personality, sense of humor, sarcasm and wit, drew people to him. He was loyal, kind, and generous, and lived by the Golden Rule of “treat others the way you want to be treated.” Jack was a loving son, brother and uncle, and friend to many.  He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Jack is predeceased by his mother, Leilani Strobel.  He is survived by his father, John Strobel, sisters Hannah Egland (Todd) and Susan Meza (Daniel), and his nieces and nephews, Leilani Bucifal, Tristan and Crosby Egland, and Isabella and Evelyn Meza.