Santa Cruz muralist James Aschbacher is shown in his Live Oak home in 2009. He died April 25 at age 66 of a stroke, according to his wife, Lisa. James and Lisa Aschbacher painted scores of murals around Santa Cruz County, including two on the walls of the Freedom Public Library and one at Aptos Junior High School. Aschbacher was a self-taught artist who discovered his talent for painting at age 40. He was once the co-owner of Atlantis Fantasyworld, a comic book and collectibles store in downtown Santa Cruz. “Life is really wonderful,” Aschbacher said in 2009.
A large mural was painted by James and Lisa Aschbacher in 2003 on a wall overlooking Freedom Library garden. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian
