Jonathan Thayer

Jonathan Thayer, age 79, died on June 1, 2025, in Norman, Oklahoma surrounded by those he loved the most. Born on December 7, 1945, in Berkeley, California, Jonathan lived a life guided by his deep love for music, unwavering commitment to justice, dedication to his family, and compassion toward others.

Jonathan was the eldest of five children and grew up in Norman, Oklahoma. A natural tinkerer and music lover, he earned his ham radio license (KB1ILC) at age 16 - a connection to the airwaves he maintained throughout his life. Long before he could vote, he was politically active, participating in civil rights demonstrations and working for candidates including Senator Fred Harris, whom he greatly admired.

In the spring of 1964, Jonathan set off for Columbia University in New York City with little more than his oboe, banjo, and a National Merit Scholarship. He studied Government and East Asian Languages & Culture, initially aspiring to become a diplomat to China. But the turbulent 1960s transformed him profoundly. He became a pacifist and conscientious objector, deeply influenced by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the social upheaval around him.

After graduating in 1968, Jonathan drove a New York City taxi- an education in itself- before finding his calling in audio engineering and recording. His talents led him to work with A1 Sound Studios and Vanguard Records, capturing performances by musicians and activists such as Barbara Dane, Nobuko Miyamoto, Bernice Reagon, and Jimmy Cliff. Among his many career highlights was recording a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony with the American Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Leopold Stokowski. Many of his recordings are preserved in the Smithsonian archives.

Jonathan loved his family more than anything, raising his children between New York City and Nantucket island. He married Bonnie Harken in 1968, with whom he had Charlie and Avery; he then married Linda McDonough in 1979, with whom he had Caitlin, Bessie and Connie.

In the late 1980’s, Jonathan moved to Nantucket, MA to be with the love of his life, Linda. They continued to raise their family, sold coffee and poppyseed cake at the farmer’s market, and ran Linda’s daycare. He painted her toenails and made her coffee. They had dogs, cats, goats, and bunnies. They never turned their back on anyone who needed help. He also kept himself busy repairing electronics and providing sound engineering to local and traveling musicians. A forever musician himself, he continued to play his oboe with dedication and mastery, and dabbled with other wind instruments. Most successfully, the baritone sax; least successfully, the bagpipes (much to Linda’s chagrin). Sadly in 2011, a huge void was left when Linda suddenly passed away, but Jonathan remained on the island for a few more years, visited frequently by his children.

Eventually, Jonathan decided to be closer to family and left the island in 2019. He spent time with his daughters and son as well as his siblings in a wide variety of places: Poughkeepsie, NY, Brooklyn, NY, San Francisco, CA, Athens, OH, Norman, OK, and Geneva, Switzerland. Jonathan's final chapter brought him full circle to Norman, Oklahoma in 2024, where he lived with his sister Helen and enjoyed his brother Joe's cooking while becoming part of a warm network of friends in his hometown.

Throughout his life, Jonathan’s moral compass was guided by fairness, compassion, and integrity. He never hesitated to challenge authority and always fought for the underdog with courage and conviction. He advocated for teenagers harmed by harsh drug policies, traveled to Washington to protest the Iraq War, and openly expressed his heartbreak and need for action on the crisis imposed on Palestine. He constantly encouraged his children and others to stand up for what they believed in, never fearing to ruffle feathers or speak truth to power. Above all, he believed in kindness; he was easily forgiving, quick to say "I'm sorry," and always saw others with gentleness and without judgment.

Jonathan loved the outdoors, biking around Nantucket and taking daily dips at Galley Beach, though he was legendary for his creative avoidance of sunscreen. He was an avid reader and enjoyed playing chess. He loved bacon cheeseburgers, ice cream, and most of all, his family. His laughter was contagious, his curiosity boundless, and his kindness unlimited.

Jonathan was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin Graham Thayer and Mary Tyrrell Ritchie Thayer, and his beloved wife Linda McDonough. He is survived by his siblings Helen DeBolt, Joseph Thayer, Constance Thayer Wolf, and Antoinette Ballentine; his children Charles Thayer, Avery Harken, Caitlin McDonough-Thayer, Bessie McDonough-Thayer, and Connie McDonough-Thayer; and his grandson, Odin Sard Thayer.

May his memory bring comfort and his legacy of music, activism, and love inspire others.

A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held in Poughkeepsie, NY on Saturday February 14, 2026. Time to be announced at a later date, please contact the family directly with any questions.

"Bye for now."