12/25/1931 - 07/15/2026
John A. Sheaffer, Jr. passed away on July 15, 2026 at age 94. John was born in Los Angeles, CA on Christmas Day, 1931 to John A. Sheaffer, Sr. and Euba Bailey Sheaffer. He graduated from San Diego State University in 1963 and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was a boatbuilder, adventurer, and entrepreneur
At 13 years of age, John was so car crazy, his father brought home a wrecked Model T Ford, anticipating the project would keep John busy. That same afternoon, John, his father, and friends got the car running and were hooning around Palos Verdes in the salvaged wreck. John conveyed his love of all things marine, automotive & mechanical to his three children.
After attending USC for a time in the 1950s, John and a group of friends signed on as crew on the Tiare Maori, the renamed EW Scripps coaster schooner, and set sail for the South Pacific. They plied the local triangle trade hauling Copra, Breadfruit and building materials, etc… between the Marquesas, Cook, and Society Islands. Returning home to Southern California in 1957, John set to designing and building a sailboat that would go on to inspire his future boat building career.
Most of John’s professional life revolved around boats. He was skipper aboard the schooner Luna Lilo when he met his bride of 65 years, Linda Helen Gledhill Sheaffer on a charter sail to Catalina Island. After the birth of their first son, Paolo, the three of them set off for Panama in a VW van to catch a French ship bound for French Polynesia and later, Sydney, Australia.
Upon returning to California, John and Linda secured a VA Loan and bought five acres with avocados & lemons in the foothills behind Carpinteria. After building a slumpstone Spanish tiled house, John returned to boat building.
John and Linda enjoyed camping in Baja California and during the Baja off-road races they would work a pit with good friends. During his lifetime, they traveled extensively.
He is survived by his wife, Linda, his children, Paolo (Charlotte), Andy (Kathy), and Micheline (Steve White). He is also survived by his six grandchildren Julia, Olivia, Augie, and Eli Sheaffer and Joseph and Leanna White. He was predeceased by an infant son, Guido. The family sends their sincerest thanks to the staff at Regency Palms, St. John’s Hospital and Coastal View Healthcare Center for their kind and able care of John. The family will be having a private celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to your favorite charity.