James Ignatius Vans

Iggy was born on a commune in rural Western Massachusetts. Born into a family of artists and free thinkers, Iggy exhibited extraordinary artistic ability and creativity from a young age. At age four, he asked his mother “wouldn’t it be nice if it was just the two of us, and not all these people?” And so, this is how they left the commune, first spending a short time in New Mexico and then by a long time in Massachusetts, where Iggy grew up.

As soon as he got the chance, Iggy decamped across the country to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he would spend most of his adult life. On his 18th birthday, Iggy got his first tattoo and decided right then and there that he, too, would become a tattoo artist. Iggy soon realized that dream, working at tattoo shops in Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and San Francisco, and eventually opening his own shop in the Mission District of San Francisco. Although Iggy specialized in traditional tattooing, he prided himself on being an artisan rather than an artist, working with clients to help them realize their own visions for their tattoos. In addition to his visual art, Iggy was also a musician, playing bass in a number of bands and cultivating his own unique style of “singing.”

Iggy was a larger-than-life figure who seemed to know everyone, and he embodied the idea of living life to the fullest. On November 19, 2009, Iggy became a father, welcoming Magnus Ulysses Vans into the world. Iggy was an extraordinarily dedicated and loving father who loved coming up with ideas for father-son adventures, and artistic and writing projects.

In addition to his son, Magnus, Iggy is survived by his parents, Carol Forsberg (Patrick Lavey) of Los Angeles, CA and Edward Evans of Greenfield, MA, and by his brother Tristan Evans (Shenandoah Sluter) of Greenfield, MA, and four nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Iggy’s life will be held at the San Francisco Columbarium on Saturday, April 25th at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at Emperor Norton’s Boozeland. Iggy’s remains will be interred in the Dionysus room at the Columbarium.

The memorial service will be live streamed at: https://www.twitch.tv/petevonpetrin