Transitions

Jonathan Lohnes was born January 14, 1947, in Springfield, Ohio, and passed away at age 77 of Interstitial Lung Disease April 3, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Springfield North High School in Ohio before traveling to Hanover, New Hampshire, to attend Dartmouth College, where he majored in Economics and graduated in 1968. He then spent over four years as an officer in the US Navy, including serving in Viet Nam.
After embarking on a management training program in the corporate world he decided to become a professional ski instructor at the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski area in California. Upon earning full certification through the Professional Ski Instructor Association, he moved to Mt. Spokane in Washington to become Assistant Ski School Director. The very next year he was hired as the Ski School Director, responsible for establishing the Multorpor Ski Bowl Ski School in Government Camp, Oregon, assisted by his dedicated staff. He meanwhile created an extremely successful city league ski racing program alongside his talented friends at Universal Ski Promotions.
Following a two-year stint in the emerging cellular phone industry, Jonathan returned to skiing to become the Ski School Director at Timberline Ski Area on Mt. Hood for ten years, involving instruction in downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding plus summer race camps.
In 1997 Jonathan earned his Oregon Massage License from East-West College of the Healing Arts in Portland. Over his career as a Licensed Massage Therapist he opened three offices to pursue his private practice and became associated with McMenamins Edgefield as an LMT both before and after they opened Ruby’s Spa in 1997.
Around 2006 Jonathan began practicing massage for the dancers of Oregon Ballet Theatre, serving them through the Allegro Society, the team of chiropractors, physical therapists, physicians, massage therapists, acupuncturists and Pilates instructors made available to them for their wellness.
He met Vida Trafford at Lake Tahoe and married her in 1976. He is survived by Vida and his two older brothers, Christopher Lohnes of Springfield, Ohio, and Lee Lohnes of West Hollywood, California. He is fondly remembered by his sisters-in-law and brother-in-law and by numerous nieces and nephews and their spouses, plus several great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Edwin and Mary Ellen Lohnes.
Jonathan affected many people and animals through his healing touch, kind words and demeanor. He served as dad to more than a dozen rescued dogs and cats, many with special needs. Donations may be made to an animal organization of your choice, whether local, national, or international.
A celebration of Jonathan’s life is being planned for Sunday, May 26, between 2 and 5pm, at McMemanins Edgefield in Troutdale.