John W. Grube Jr., DDS.

John Wesley Grube Jr. was born on Nov. 13, 1943, in Biloxi, Mississippi, the son of Rev. John (Jack) Wesley Grube Sr., a chaplain in the United States Air Force / itinerant pastor, and June Mooty Grube, a beloved elementary school teacher. He and his younger sister, Joanne, traveled with their parents to Germany and England, where their father had been stationed in Europe during WW II.

John graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena and went on to attend and graduate from UCSB in 1966 with a BS in Biology and a secondary teaching credential. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and spent many days surfing at Campus Point, working at the Santa Barbara Harbor Chandlery, and sailing. He met his future wife, Susan Hill, at UCSB and they were married on June 18, 1965.

John and Susan lived in Bogotá, Colombia for one year, both teaching in an American school, Colegio Nueva Granada, and traveling around the country in their free time.

After their time together in Colombia, John and Susan ventured to England on a Spanish passenger freighter and began teaching at an American school in London, but returned to the United States when John applied and was accepted to dental school at UCLA. After graduating from UCLA School of Dentistry in 1973 at the top of his class, he and Susan returned to Santa Barbara, where he began practicing dentistry, first in Goleta and Lompoc and eventually at his Patterson office in Goleta, until his retirement. John’s colleagues and patients regard him as he was, an excellent clinician and a kind and honest man.

John was an intensely curious person of many interests, incredible creative talent, and a strong work ethic. When his two beautiful children, Alison and Brett, were young, John built a 40’ sailboat, christened “Dulcinea”, on which he sailed often, with family and friends, to Santa Cruz Island for weekend adventures. He also won the prestigious King Harbor race in 1979, in the split rig class. John designed and built his family’s home and over the following decades, continued to make additions and improvements to the house and property. John was a true waterman. He loved surfing, sailing, and scuba diving. He shaped and glassed several surfboards for himself and friends and “innovated” spectacular designs accentuated by his unusual choice of colors. He also enjoyed archery and made most of his own bows, strings, and arrows. John was often found in his workshop, happily working on his latest project. Also an avid private pilot, he often flew his young family to Mammoth Mountain for snow skiing weekends.

John was the director of Aeromédicos for many years, during which time he flew regularly with other volunteers, in private planes, to Mexico, to provide free medical and dental care for the underserved people in remote areas of the country. He cherished his friendships with his fellow pilots and adored the people he worked with and helped. “Juanito”, as he was popularly known, will be missed but his devotion to service will be honored by the dedicated men and women of Aeromédicos.

He was a very proud grandfather of Jack, Ella, and Clementine, who kept him amazed and “young at heart”.

The last few years of his life he and wife Susan enjoyed daily beach walks with their black lab, Charlie, making many new friends along the way.

He once painted a message over his workshop door, “Never Quit”, which was his life motto.

John is survived by his wife Susan, children Alison and Brett (Jennie), sister Joanne, nephew Brooks, cousins, and his beloved grandchildren, Jack (16), Ella (14), and Clementine (10).

There will be a paddle out and celebration of his life on June 21. For further details, one may contact the dental office.