Our dear son, brother, nephew, cousin and grandson Jasper Pieter van der Meulen passed away on Jan. 28, 2021 at the too young age of 19.

Jasper carried a bright light of energy and love within him that touched our lives and many others in the Santa Barbara/Goleta community where he was born and raised. Jasper will be greatly missed by many friends and former classmates from over the years, including those from Hollister School, Santa Barbara Charter School, Goleta Valley Junior High, and Dos Pueblos High School.

While at Goleta Valley Junior High, Jasper competed on the cross-country team and received the award for Best Jazz Musician at eighth-grade graduation for his many passionate performances on his trombone.

During his three years at Dos Pueblos High School, Jasper was a member of the Engineering Academy and participated as a student athlete on the JV Soccer, Soph/Frosh Volleyball and Varsity Cross-County teams. Jasper ultimately graduated from Alta Vista High School in June 2019.

Jasper was a UCSB freshman living in Isla Vista at the time of his death. While still undeclared, Jasper was considering a major in economics with a minor in geology as he hoped to start a business one day and has always loved rocks.

In the last year Jasper had become more and more passionate about surfing at both Devereaux and Campus Point, and caught many amazing waves on his new long-board during the recent December swell with family and friends.

Jasper was predeceased by his Opa Piet and is survived by his sister Annebel; cousins Kadin, Jake, Ivan, Finn, Fleur, Milou and Liselot; aunts Cathleen, Dorin, Nancy, Renate and Maggie; uncles Patrick, Paul, Olivier, Pepijn and Eric; grandparents Ineke, Cay and Frank; mother Sharon and father Pjot.

In Jasper’s memory, the family are asking that community members consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Giffords Law Center, which is working to prevent gun violence across the U.S. through enhanced public safety laws. Visit https://giffords.org/lawcenter/action/give-glc/.

A graveside service attended by family and friends and officiated by Monsignor Jon of St. Raphael Church in Goleta was held for Jasper on Saturday, Feb. 13 at Calvary Cemetery, where Jasper has been laid to rest. May he rest in peace.