Johann F. Garcia joined his family in heaven on June 4, 2021. He is preceded by his parents, Pantaleon Garcia Jr and Mary Louise Garcia and his niece, Monique Veronica Sandoval. Born on September 5, 1971, in Oxnard, California, Johann would go on to become a beloved father, brother, uncle godfather and friend.
Though he was the youngest of four children, Johann was a cornerstone of the Garcia family. He is survived by his three children, Vanessa, Nikolas and Genevie, three siblings, Cheri, Gerry and Gabriel, four nephews, Gabriel Jr, Andrew, Jacob and Richard, and three nieces, Ariana, Rita and Tabitha. He will be forever missed and never forgotten.
A cancer survivor who was diagnosed at the tender age of 20, he was determined to live his life loving, laughing and creating. As a young man attending Santa Clara High School, he developed a passion for music that he shared with his many friends, siblings and cousins. Known to many as “Yo Jaay”, he was a founding father of Oxnard’s 805 hip-hop movement more than 25 years ago and went on to become one of the city’s best known local battle-scratch DJs. He was also a passionate and dedicated golfer. A lover of competition, he played in innumerable local and state-wide tournaments, including the Amateur at Poppy Hills. Yet his most prized matches were those he played against his siblings and nephews for the family trophy, “The Garcia Cup: Pompy’s Pride,” he and his brothers had dedicated to his late father.
Beyond his many accolades, Johann will be most fondly remembered for the many rooms he filled with laughter. His ceaseless jokes, witty quips and positive energy made it easy for all who crossed his path to love him. Johann was truly a joy to be around—a friend to people from all walks of life, never judgmental and always willing to lend a helping hand.
