John Barker

April 6, 1947 - April 30, 2007

Cabrillo College retiree John Arthur Barker, 60, died suddenly in his home in Los Banos on the evening of April 30 from cardiac arrest. Many of his friends and family were blessed to have attended his 60th birthday party in Monterey, just weeks before his passing.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John was raised in Ohio and started his education at Kent State. After serving in the Navy as a shipfitter during the Vietnam War, John settled in California. He began his career in law enforcement while still attending UC Santa Cruz, working part time with the University police department as a kiosk guard. He and his friends were very proud that no kiosks were lost during his tenure. He joined the fledgling Cabrillo Police Department in 1979 and served as Police Chief for over 17 years. He retired to a second career as a damaged freight inspector and eventually became partners with his wife in their own company, Sanders Services, Northern California's largest damaged freight inspection business.

John enjoyed aikido, disc golf, and the ocean. He is lovingly remembered for teaching his children, Gwendolyn and Colin, to snorkel in Kealakekua Bay, and for coaching their soccer teams. His children were the light of his life.

John enjoyed sports in general and the Giants in particular. He loved motorcycle touring and racing, and was thrilled whenever he could visit the pits at Laguna Seca. He has been a member of the California Police Chiefs Association, Freedom Rotary, the Unitarian Universal Fellowship in Aptos, Pajaro Valley Toastmasters, and the Heck's Eclectics Motorcycle Club, of which he was a founding member.

One of the key events in John's life was his "lap around the country" on his Kawasaki Concours motorcycle, looking for his birth family and discovering that his sister Andrea had been searching for him for more than 20 years.

John is survived by his wife, Wendy Barker of Los Banos; his former wife, Jeanne Clinton of Aromas, CA and their children Gwendolyn Barker and Colin Barker; and his sisters: Barbara Zebosky of Port Saint Lucie FL; Andrea Murphy of Pittsburgh PA; and Marilyn Mueller of Escondido, CA. He is predeceased by his parents, Charles and Edythe Barker of Brookfield OH. He was born to and predeceased by Erma Kaminski of Pittsburgh, PA.

A celebration of his life is planned for Sunday, May 27, when his ashes will be scattered from the sailboat the Chardonnay off Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, CA near the cement boat. Friends may gather at the cement boat when his ashes are scattered at 7:15pm. For more information please call Wendy Barker at 831-274-2832.

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