Jeffrey Alan Achin
Born to Charlotte Joy Beatty on January 17th 1971, Jeff charted a seemingly indestructible path through the city of his soul, Santa Barbara. On July 8th, 2025, we lost the gentle, complex man we’ve all become accustomed to.
Jeff was as omnipresent as the ocean, floating around the charm and grit of downtown, shuffling with his trademark gait into a coffee shop, peddling his ten dollar cruiser to buy a can of Murray’s, or waiting with just enough change to catch a bus. Jeff lived fiercely and fearlessly for twenty one years in the city he dubbed “my town.” Always independent in thought, reckless with time and guarded with tenderness, Jeff was predictably unpredictable. He would offer you his last cigarette, his only dollar, and silently revel in your joys. He would regale his story of meeting Mickey Rourke, tease you with trivia from the golden age of baseball, and educate you on Brando’s best films. As the Poni-Tails sang “born too late for you to notice me”, we noticed Jeff as he was the epitome of cool. Hair perpetually slicked back, tattoos of Peggy Sue, hotrods and anchors, he walked and talked from a bygone era referring to his friends as “Fancy Pants” and “Hot Shot”. You noticed Jeff when he walked into a room, because you were transported back in time.
Jeff met Rosie in 2005 and wherever life took each of them, for 20 years they remained always together in true love, friendship, sorrow, mischief, laughter, and many adventures. Theirs was a love that was undefinable. During the last few months of his life, when recalling, he would say “hey, let’s keep those memories right here” pointing to his heart.
Jeff admired and was deeply proud of his ever loyal nephew, Dillon (D-Ray). From babysitting him as a youngster to spending hours talking Dodger baseball and Clippers basketball, Jeff helped D-Ray fall in love with Santa Barbara just as he did 21 years ago. Uncle Jeff was a man of fashion, style, friendship and even was an Oakley surf model and nearly cast as the red Power Ranger when he was young.
His final months were spent searching, praying, reminiscing, telling his family how much he loved us and reconnecting with his cherished aunt Cindy, Those of you who had the fortunate opportunity to know this incredible enigma, know he is finally at peace. He is a tough act to follow.
“Those you love will live in a fever of love, and you’ll bargain with the calendar and at the last moment when death opens the back door you’ll put on your carpet slippers and stride out.”
Jeff is survived by his nephew Dillon Grove (Sta. Barbara), companion Rosie Breault (Sta. Barbara), brother Robert Beatty and aunt Cindy Hunter (Cedar City, Utah). His family finds comfort that he has been reunited with his mother Charlotte, brother Ben, and sister Ami.
