Jonathan Campbell Perez

Jonathan Campbell Perez, known to his family and friends as Jonny, Jonny Boy and Jibbles, was born on March 28, 1985, in Riverside, California. Jonny was a man who created his own path in life as vibrant and dynamic as a California sunset. His journey unexpectedly came to an end on September 11, 2024, in Pismo Beach, California, far too soon, and under circumstances that remind us all to live each day as our last and cherish the time we have.
Jonny was a quiet, sensitive, and reflective boy with a heart as big as his smile. Naturally introverted, he felt all emotions with great intensity. He loved to read, draw, play board and card games, build Legos and puzzles of all kinds; and spent countless hours fighting Bowser on the Nintendo with his brother, Daniel. His love of Goosebumps grew into a love of Stephen King and various genres of books. He loved Spiderman and Star Wars, especially Yoda. He was involved in sports-football, basketball, and baseball, playing on teams competitively in his youth and then continuing as a pastime with friends as an adult. All his passions spearheaded a love for collecting cards and other memorabilia, which he later would joke, "It's my retirement" with a big grin.
After high school, Jonny attended Cal Poly for a short time in the Mechanical Engineering program while working as a mechanic for 12 years at San Luis Auto & Repair Services (SLARS). For Jonny, working on cars was not just about tinkering under the hood, but about connecting rods and connecting with people. That was his balance. He was the kind of guy who could fix your car and your mood at the same time. During his last 5 years at SLARS, he worked in the evening as an expo at Giuseppe's with his brother, Daniel.
After leaving his garage career, you would find Jonny behind the bar at Giuseppe's for his last eight years, serving up his signature mix of good humor with a twist of wisdom in every conversation and a dash of wit in every pour. It wasn't just about the beer or cocktails; again, it was about connecting with others mixing his sincere perspectives and laughter into the lives of those around him. SLARS and Giuseppe's were family to Jonny, and he loved them as such. Over his 25 working years, he definitely brought his own brand of spirit to the places and the people. One thing is certain, Jonny left a good impression at every job he worked. Even after a six-month stint at Cal Poly completing the annual campuswide property inventory, his good nature and methodical approach impressed his mother's co-workers.
When Jonny wasn't working at Giuseppe's you would often find him using his mechanic skills working on cars for friends and family, enjoying a beer at sunset in appreciation of its natural beauty, or on the golf course with his brother, Daniel, and friends, or anyone seeking a partner to play with. Jonny's love for the Green Bay Packers was only matched by his passion for Star Wars. He could debate the finer points of a West Coast offense and the moral complexities of the Galactic Empire in the same breath. His interests in reading and writing made him a philosopher of sorts, one who also happened to love the roar of a Porsche engine, the crack of a bat at a San Francisco Giants game and rocking to the beats at a concert. Music resonated in him. He was inspired by a symphony to rap and everything in between. He was the kind of person who could quote Tupac and Shakespeare in the same sentence, and make it sound like the most natural thing in the world. Jonny's creative spark shone through in his writings and artwork, a talent that captured the hearts and imaginations of anyone lucky enough to be his audience.
Jonny was one-of-a-kind, a free spirit who lived his life simply, and exactly how he chose. He was a compassionate and trusting soul that viewed everyone as an equal. He worked hard and played hard. In his own words, he wrote "The beauty of life is that it doesn't have to make sense. The less it makes sense, the happier one is."
Now after 39 years, Jonny will be deeply missed by his biggest fans, the Moen and Perez clans. His mother, Kimberly Moen-Perez, with her two young boys relocated to San Luis Obispo in 1989, which has been their home since then. His brother, Daniel, lost his best friend and favorite person. Daniel has been and always will be Jonny Boy's eternal partner in crime. His aunts, Tamra and Debra, and cousins, Billy, and Serena (Lee) with husband, Aaron, and children, Paige, Damian, Bianca, and Isaac, were tightly connected throughout Jonny's life. In addition, there are other Moen/Allis cousins in California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Jonny's father, Juan Antonio Perez (Jonathan's namesake), shared more time with him in his adult years where Jonny came to embrace the Perez side of his family he did not grow up with, his aunts, Maria, Teresa and Carmela and uncles, Jose, and Martin, as well as a number of cousins in California, New Mexico, and Mexico.
Jonny's life was a testament to the power of kindness, respect, and humor. In his 39 years, Jonny amassed not just a collection of tools and collectibles, but a family and family of friends that was as eclectic and loving as his interests. He didn't just walk into a room; he illuminated it. He didn't just join a conversation; he transformed it. And he didn't just live life; he gave it a soundtrack, a storyline, and a soul. He poured love and laughter into everything he did, from turning wrenches to turning plain tortilla chips into an amazing platter of nachos to share with neighbors to "just spitting jibs." He was a well-known fixture in Pismo Beach, it was his Home. We couldn't imagine him living anywhere else.
So here is to our Jonny Perez, a bright star who left us too soon but gave us enough memories to last a lifetime. A man with a laugh so contagious, it spread throughout any room he was in. His 2 am phone calls and early morning texts will be missed. He was the kind of guy who would want us to raise a glass, share a story, and find a reason to smile through the tears. Jonny did not deserve for his life to end so tragically, but "was deeply troubled by thoughts of others leaving him, and other's emotions if he were to leave them." A Jedi in his own right, he has become one with the Force, and his legacy will continue to inspire those who knew him to look at the world not just as it is, but as it could be-with a little more kindness, a lot more laughter, and an unending supply of individuality. Jonny, we love you may the Force be with you, Always
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who wish to express their sympathy consider a donation to your favorite charity in Jonny's memory or plant a tree. He loved playing golf, listening to music, writing poetry, drawing/painting, dog/cat pets, wildlife, and the natural world, especially sunsets.