John Henry Donner Jr.
June 1, 1987 ~ October 4, 2025
Born in:
Buffalo, New York
Resided in:
Nashville, Tennessee
John Henry Donner, Jr., 38, passed away on October 4, 2025, following an accident at his Nashville home. He was the son of John Henry Donner, Sr., of West Falls, N.Y. and Liz Phythyon Donner of Nashville, who survive him.
According to a Metro Police Department spokesman, officers responding to a neighbor’s report found that John Henry had suffered “a high fall” from the exterior stairway to his second-floor apartment and that “the cause and manner of death are pending conclusions by the Medical Examiner.”
Educated at the University of Vermont for his B.A. degree in Art and English, he went on to Hunter College to get his MFA in Studio Art.. John Henry had carved out a career as a freelance graphic artist, an art handler, and a chef. He also served as a teacher with the Nashville affiliate of Kokua Education which brings together a network of guest teachers to augment the educational experiences of students who have learning differences.
Additionally, he served as a volunteer for Nashville nonprofit Room in the Inn, a faith-based initiative that serves and supports those experiencing homelessness and others in need. He also was involved with St. Luke’s Community House, an Episcopal outreach. John Henry was a talented, multi-instrument musician and songwriter.
Surviving John Henry, in addition to his parents, are his brother, Walter Eugene O’Neill Donner of Philadelphia, PA and his grandmothers, Marlin Jones Phythyon Sanders of Nashville and Lola Mae Drier Donner of Hamburg, NY. Also remembering him with love are aunts Mary Neal Phythyon Meador (Clif), Sarah Reed Phythyon Miller (Jim), Lori Margerat, Judi Donner, and uncles Jim Donner and Jeff Donner. Step-aunts Kathy Tompkins (Tommy), Beth Eckert (Bob), Laura Sanders (Mike), and step-uncle Evan Sanders (Jennifer); and many beloved cousins.
Preceding John in death are his maternal grandfather, Dr. James Martin Phythyon, and The Right Reverend William Evan Sanders, whom Marlin married after Jim passed away. Also preceding him in death is his paternal grandfather Eugene Donner.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his honor to St. Luke’s Community House, Nashville, Room in the Inn, Nashville, and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, Buffalo.
A memorial service to honor and celebrate John Henry’s life will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, located at 900 Broadway. The service will be held in the chapel.
Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, 6949 Charlotte Pike, Suite 104 (615) 857-9955. We are proud to be West Nashville & Bellevue’s only locally owned and operated burial & cremation provider.
Services
Memorial Service: November 14, 2025 10:00 am
Room: *Service to be held in the chapel
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We are grateful to have had John as part of the over 100-year legacy of St. Luke’s Community House, his contributions will continue to live on in the lives he touched.
Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
The St. Luke’s Community House Family
John Henry was my friend and my college roommate – we met during our senior year at UVM. We shared so many moments together – too many to recount. With his gifts for music and painting, his love of typography and literature, and his ability to debate any topic with eloquence and wit, life with him was colorful and grounded, experimental and full of possibility. My best memories with John Henry are the small moments – making food together while making fun of each other’s meals, going to the Radio Bean, listening to music, canoeing Squantz Pond, and riding and fixing our bikes (his old Motobecane).
He pushed me to think differently and to explore parts of myself I might never have discovered without him. I admired his courage to be wholly himself, and in that way, I hope to keep his memory alive and part of me.
I am so deeply sorry to his family for this unimaginable loss. My heartfelt condolences to all who loved him.
Rest in peace, John Henry.
With Love,
Tom and Melissa Petschauer and Family
John Henry and I were close during our Junior and Senior years at UVM. We shared an interest in Art, English, taking things both lightly and seriously all at once — and a ton of laughter.
He was a very good painter. I took great interest in the development of his work from his animal studies, then typography, and at Hunter (we went to separate art schools in New York), his exploration of odd geometric and 3-Dimensional painting-sculptures.
He liked ideas and was a Vonnegut super fan. At UVM, we’d go out on weekends together, and though immersed in being young and partying, our studies were consistently a topic, but made fun and light in the real-world setting of youth. We had a rolling refrain, which stemmed from one of our English courses, “this is how we’re spending the detritus of our night!” We’d repeat this with another close friend, feeling ridiculous and laugh. Though an inside joke, I have hunch he’d appreciate me mentioning this. It touches on the silly, serious, sweet person he was.
He was a searcher. One doesn’t move from Buffalo, to Vermont, to New York, to Nashville otherwise. He’s still searching still. I’m sure of this. And I hope that in that search he continues to walk with great lightness.
John Henry and I lost touch, but I’m thinking about him a lot now, as well as his family. Wishing you all strength and love.
Much Love,
Swasey