Jonathan Scott Panzer

Jonathan Scott Panzer: A Life Well Lived

How do you sum up a life? For Jonathan Scott Panzer, who passed away peacefully at 80 on Saturday evening, June 21, 2025, it’s about far more than just titles. While he was a beloved dad, son, brother, grandfather, and loving partner, he was also simply Jonathan. Or Jon. Or Jonny. Or JP. He lived fully, right up to his final, peaceful moments surrounded by family (a gift we all hope for). But truly, it was how he lived that defined him. And boy, did he live.

Born on July 10, 1944, in Long Island, NY, Jonathan was the third of six children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Minna, his older siblings, Robert and Joan, and his beloved son, Justin.

Jon’s childhood on the Long Island Sound ignited a lifelong passion for water and sailing. At 20, he had a memorable run-in with the law, choosing the Air Force over jail (though the exact offense remained a delightful mystery!). Despite the unconventional start, he was immensely proud of his service, honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1968.

He then moved to Boston, MA, where, as a building superintendent, he met Robbie Sanders, his future wife. Their marriage may not have endured, but the rich life they built together certainly did. They moved to upstate New York, where Jon earned his master’s in education from SUNY Cortland. They then settled in Ithaca, NY, launching what would be life-long teaching careers and welcoming their two children, Justin and Sarahlena (Sarah).

A self-described "old hippie," Jon instilled in his children a love for gardening and nature. But he also instilled practical skills like changing a tire, building a fire, using power tools, and, most importantly, following your dreams. Summers were for backyard berry picking and sailing on Cayuga Lake; winters brought hot cocoa and homemade applesauce, sledding on Strawberry Hill, and skiing at Greek Peak.

The loss of his 13-year-old son, Justin, nearly broke him and in the quiet time that followed, Jonathan and Sarahlena healed together. They found solace in renting old Bond movies, making chocolate milkshakes, playing rummy, and exploring photography in the darkroom he built for them. The bond was profound.

Throughout Jonathan’s life his deep connection to the water, the ocean, and its reefs remained constant. He swam every morning of his adult life, proudly competing in the NYS Empire Games’ "over 40 division."

In retirement, he fulfilled his dream of buying a bigger boat and moving to the Caribbean to sail, swim, and explore. Though health challenges eventually brought him home, he achieved his dream, in the process, teaching his grandsons to sail and inspiring a new generation to love the islands and the sea.

Despite all this, Jon never let his health define him. Who else, at 78, fresh off a kidney transplant and not having ridden in 40 years, would buy a motorcycle and ride across the country? His was undeniably a life fully lived.

He was a truly true force of nature. His infectious laugh and perpetual goofiness illuminated every room and immediately endeared him to all.

He found peace in gardening and watching life grow, in Yoga, and in his lifelong dedication to political activism and civil and women’s rights. He cherished his friends, his men’s group, his poker buddies, and his pickleball community. An artist at heart, he loved all forms of art, perpetually seeing the beauty in the world around him. He loved music, and man, did he love to dance. He loved to laugh. He loved life.

He leaves behind by his younger brother Kenny, younger sisters Carol and Jill, his loving partner Maureen, his daughter Sarahlena, son-in-law Brian, and "the lights of his life," his two grandsons, Austin and Jaxon.

He leaves behind a world that will miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a cause you believe in, plant some flowers, or simply take a deep breath and remember his laughter.