John was the best friend a boy could ever have.we were best friends from the 5th grade. John was like a brother to me . I am so sorry we lost contact in our later years may God bless him and his family. With love in my heart I send this . Jim Trisler

You won't know me; but I knew Jon while I attended Valley State. He took me skiing, once, which resulted in me getting the cold of my life, the week before Track season began.  I've never tried the sport since; but, I thought of him when I turned a canoe over 1/2 mile from shore off Vancouver Island, B.C. The water felt the same as Lake Piru, so long ago... I'm sorry for your loss, I, like so many others whose testaments I've read, thought Jon to be a sweet, though extremely competitive man. Kind regards. I cannot fathom that he has succumbed.

After all these years, and residing in far off Alaska...and upon looking at an online map of Palmdale, where I grew up, then, of the adjacent mountains, I saw Lake Piru and thought of a February day, in 1964, when Jon took me waterskiing. I had been preparing hard for my first eligible year to compete on the San Fernando Valley State College track team, (where I ran in the sprint relay and threw the javelin.) Jon told me not to worry about the cold water, because, once I got 'up' I wouldn't be exposed to it. DAMN! I never got up! And, progressively, I was borderline hypothermic and could not keep my legs from shaking violently. I suspected, after the fact, that he wanted me along so that HE could ski, and I drive the boat...which is how we spent most of the day. I had just completed my first summer of Marine Corps O.C.S., enroute to my commissioning the following summer. I think Jon got some perverse delight in seeing a tough Marine not be his match. He had some hell of a fast ski boat. And, boy, did he ski magnificently, and barefooted, as well. I always wondered what became of him...and I'm sad to find he's gone.  He dated a girl that I had previously dated, Patti Smith. I wondered if they had married.  It's hard to imagine such a good athlete as I remember him to be, gone. The descriptions of his persona, were as I remember him, so very long ago. I would love to know if they did, indeed, marry.  myron@rosenbergartphotos.com

John was my colleague at CSUN. Recreation Dept. He was the kindest man. We are saddened by his loss. Rest in peace Dear Friend. Love, Dr. George Welton

What a remarkable man a friend a person that cared about everybody around him .. a happy wonderful attitude he showed us all..don’t know if I ever saw him down... to think of all the people he influenced us as students friends .He loved his family so much And always  spoke so highly of them out at the lake. John ..a .Castaic lake ski legend and in his  spirit lives on fr all of us. as we should all aspire to be as kind and caring as he was What a great friend and his love he shared 

I am saddened to hear about the passing  of John. I worked in the Associated Students Office for almost 30 years.  I had many dealings with John and he was always one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He always had a smile on his face and his enthusiasm about the lake was infectious.  He was a very sweet man and I am very sorry for  your loss. 

I was a recreation student of John at CSUN '76 . I had several classes with him from '73 to'76. I knew he was a champion water skier in his youth and promoted the sport.  I just read his obituary in CSUN Magazine in Nov, 2020, and felt compelled to send this message of condolences to his family.  We held most of our classes on the north side of campus in two huge garages which had large swing up doors on one wall which we kept open on nice weather days. We sometimes had our classes on the lawn outside. There was a time when we played badminton as one of our many activities. John was very competitive, and did not like to lose a volley. He was kind, encouraging and had a positive nature about him. I worked for the Boys and Girls Club of America, and John, on occasion would let me share with the class my work experiences; which he sometimes turned into his lecture of the day. I never forgot his influence on me as a recreational leader and as a young man going through life. RIP John. Your student, Tony Seta.

John, was  the most amazing athlete I’ve ever seen in my life.

I met John water-skiing  at the CSUN athletic programs and I also train with Jon VanArsdale at CSUN over the summer.
Amazing Skier and Badminton player.
Always kind and happy. Hard worker.  Amazing energy.

If it wasn’t for John I would have never been a member at Ski West Village and met some of my closest friends.

Happy times meeting John at Galey’s at Castaic Lake, ski and help him drive the other skiers.

Very sad that he is gone. I wish I would have known of the memorial.

Rest  peacefully John

Joe Biafora 



Marsha, Tom, and Family,
Just learned of John’s passing a few minutes ago. He was a fixture in my early skiing days and I will never forget his kindness and positive attitude.  What a great man! I’m blessed to have known him. 

OBITUARY

John Stanley Van Arsdale

March 16, 1945 – June 5, 2020

Eternal Valley Memorial Park & Mortuary

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