Jonathan Lawson

The Pocatello community lost a good friend when Jonathan Lawson passed away on the morning of September 11, 2018 at the age of 77 at Pocatello Regional Medical Center. He was born on March 27, 1941, to Eleanor and Lawrence Lawson in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Jonathan grew up in Pennsylvania and went off to school at Tilton School in New Hampshire, and to York Junior College and later to Texas Christian University where he completed his doctoral degree in English in 1970. Jonathan and his wife, Pam, moved to Pocatello as newlyweds in September 1995. Jonathan moved to Idaho to serve as Vice President for Academic Affairs (AVP) and Professor of English at ISU. Moving west for Jonathan and Pam was to be an adventure, and it was. They never left! Jonathan enjoyed rock hounding, walking the dog(s), reading, gardening, cooking, and beach combing on annual trips to Puerto Vallarta and the Oregon coast. A good day for Jonathan was one where he made someone laugh. He will be missed by so many, but especially by his wife who called him her best friend, companion, lover, and number one supporter of everything she did from bus driving to creating jewelry. Jonathan was an inclusive leader. While serving as AVP, he worked collaboratively with colleagues at other Idaho higher education institutions, and on campus he worked closely with faculty leadership on multiple projects. Following his tenure as AVP, he was Founding Chair of the Graduate Department of Educational Leadership & Instructional Design in ISUs College of Education. An inspiring instructor, Jonathan was beloved by his students and lauded for his ability masterfully to incorporate his many years of academic leadership experience into his teaching. He authored two books and numerous articles and was awarded several fellowships and awards, including the Journal of Allied Healths J. Warren Perry Award in 2016. Jonathans contributions to the community went well beyond his work at ISU. He served on multiple community boards, including the Greater Pocatello Chamber of Commerce, the Bannock Development Corporation, and the Southeast Idaho Works Board. He received the Presidents Award (2001), and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2013), from the Pocatello Chamber of Commerce. Prior to 1995, Jonathan served for ten years as Senior VP for Academic Affairs and, prior to assuming that position, as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Hartford. From 1981 to 1984, he was Dean of Liberal Arts at Winona State University, following administrative and teaching positions at St. Cloud State University. Over the course of his career, he advised dozens of doctoral students, skillfully guiding them through the dissertation process. He served on multiple higher education positions and accreditation teams for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Jonathan was preceded in death by his son, Joshua; his parents; and two older brothers, William and Lawrence. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Pam; and by his two sons, Jacob (Miriam) and Paul; four grandchildren, Nathan, Zachary, James, and Beatrice; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and an extended group of family and friends that loved him. Special thanks to Dr. Jonathan Cree for his care and support. Donations in Jonathans memory can be made to the Tilton School (https://www.tiltonschool.org); Texas Christian University Foundation; the Pocatello Animal Shelter; and ISUs College of Education. A celebration of Jonathans life will be held at the ISU Performing Arts Center Rotunda, 1002 Sam Nixon Dr., Pocatello, ID 83209, on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 2 pm.

Celebration of Life

11/10/2018 14:00



O.K. Ward Park

1400 W. Quinn Rd

Pocatello

Idaho

83202