Jon Aaronson

Jon Aaronson, age 83, died on February 6, 2025, at UW Hospital in Madison, WI from complications following a grand mal seizure. Jon was born on December 10, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York to parents Irving and Freda Greenbaum Aaronson. Jon is survived by his wife Jane; son David Aaronson and his daughters Mia and Carmen; son Joe Aaronson (Roxy) and their daughters Aaliyah and Dalilah; stepson Garth (Tamie) Langhammer and their children Evin and Triese; Gavin Langhammer and his sons Jude, Charlie, and Noah; and dear friends Lorna Aaronson and Jim Klancer. He was preceded in death by his parents Irving and Freda, and his second wife, Judy Neal. 

Jon attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, NY. Although Jon was not a famous attendee, he did at times brag that Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand (neither of whom won the music award that year), and Bobby Fischer (who dropped out in favor of a career in chess), were his classmates. Jon felt privileged, proud, and ever grateful to have attended Harpur College in Binghampton, New York where he earned his BA in Political Science, just short of a double major in English. Although Jon would never turn English Literature into a money-maker, he did have a lifelong love of poetry, which he was rarely asked to share, but remained forever ready to do so. Every summer in high school and during part of college, Jon’s favorite job was working as lifeguard at Jones Beach, where he undoubtedly developed his big broad swimmer’s chest. As much as Jon loved these summers working on Long Island, in time at Harpur College Jon became immersed in the civil rights movement of the early 1960s. This involvement with political activism grew for Jon into a lifelong commitment to social justice that affected his education and career choices; it directed his work ethic and drove a strong compassionate social consciousness --all of which fashioned the man Jon became. Jon was a volunteer worker to get-out-the-vote in national elections. He never missed a vote in any election conducted for the 45 years he was registered in Madison, WI. He never made a final election choice without research and careful consideration, although late-on he did rely on Lorna and Jane for the research.  

After College, Jon attended Michigan State University (Go Spartans!) for graduate study in Political Science. He received his MA and was in the process of completing his PhD when he met and married his first wife, and closest lifelong friend, Lorna. Around the same time, Jon was offered a very special opportunity to finish his doctorate, while also starting an appointment as Assistant Professor of Political Science at the newly established UW-Green Bay. So Lorna, Jon and son David, in utero, left East Lansing for Green Bay. For Jon, the best gifts of his tenure at UW-Green Bay were his baby boy, David, and a new passion for the Green Bay Packers. (Jon had wanted badly to be present for David’s birth. However, legend was that the hospital had banned fathers from the delivery room after a Packer had threatened to chain himself to his wife’s bed if he was not allowed to attend the birth. Of course the Packer was allowed in the room, although when he fell down in a cold, sweaty faint and he had to be removed on a stretcher.) The other life-changing event in Green Bay was Jon’s realization that while he loved studying and teaching political science, he did not like the rigorous pressures of being an Assistant Professor. This eventually led to a career change including a move to UW-Madison where he had been invited to join the Doctoral Program in Guidance and Counseling. Lorna and Jon divorced soon after coming to Madison, but they co-parented David, and remained the closest of friends for life; as was fitting, Lorna was with Jon when he passed. 

Jon’s PhD and doctoral work in Counseling led to a position as a Family Court Counselor at Dane County Family Court Counseling, where he worked for almost 25 years. During this time Jon renewed his acquaintance with Judy Neal. The two married and created a large blended family that included: David Aaronson; Garth and Gavin Langhammer, sons of Judy and Harold Langhammer; Todd Byrnes, son of Dianne Nelson and nephew of Judy Neal; along with the joyful addition of Joseph Aaronson, baby son of Jon and Judy. When Judy passed after a long struggle with leukemia, Jon lovingly, determinedly worked to raise Joe as a single parent. This large sprawling blended family remained always the most important part of Jon’s life –with all the sons, cousins, spouses, and grandchildren at its communal heart.  

Ten years later in 2000, Jon met Jane Hurley Walent; they married in 2005. Jane supported Jon through the gnarly decision to retire from the Dane County Family Court Counseling in order to start his own private practice in Psychotherapy. Within his general practice, Jon also specialized in child advocacy in divorce counseling, domestic violence in partnership counseling, and advocacy for single fathers. It was for Jon a most exciting vision and undertaking. With determination, considerable sacrifice and hard work, surviving worst fears and the terrifying risks of such a venture, Jon forged his new path. At 67, he was bringing his career full circle to alight in an altogether wonderful new place. He was very proud of his practice and the new services he was working to develop for the Madison community. 

In Spring of 2010, Jon suffered a grand mal seizure caused by a large brain abscess in his left frontal lobe. Jon survived the emergency surgery, but was left with Seizure Disorder, Aphasia, and Parkinson’s Disease. With the incredible support and care (2011 to closing in 2018) provided by St. Mary’s Day Care Center (Bless you and Thank you, All!) and friend, Jim Klancer in Milwaukee, Jane was able to secure Jon’s welfare and quality of life through the first few years, while Jon continued to suffer grand mal seizures. In 2014 their close friend, Jim Klancer, a retired 15-year EMS crewman (and IT Professional), came to live-in as Jon’s permanent caretaker. This allowed Jane to work full time at the Madison USPS to support the family. Jim was very close to Jon and cared for him daily with love and humor, respect and dignity, (and damn good cookin’) for the next 11 seizure-free years. The three created an odd-ball Family-Unit that worked as well as any family could to keep Jon healthy, active, safe, secure, stimulated, and Happy --in his home!

Throughout his struggle with Aphasia and Parkinson’s Disease, Jon expressed a love of life with badger-like tenacity, grit, sardonic wit, charm, and mischievous joy. Jon remained a passionate reader, especially of his beloved literary magazines and news journals, and poetry, to his last sentient day; he devoured PBS and MSNBC News and current events, which were time-shared with almost any sports, (save Packers football, which superseded all other viewing, although women’s sports, basketball in particular, were close behind). Jon loved politics, the Dodgers (until they defected), the Green Bay Packers, the Mallards, The New Yorker magazine, and poetry. But above all else, Jon adored his family! He never tired hearing about his cousins, his adult children and their kids, his grandchildren. Cards or stories about their lives and accomplishments, joys and sorrows brought him deep happiness and contentment; he saved every card, which he kept nearby in a pile on his side table for easy, frequent review. Family was truly the centerpiece of his life and he cherished each member dearly! 

Jon was sustained for 16 years by the love of Lorna, Jim, Jane, family and all the friends who enabled him to live the best life possible. Jon was always aware of this, and regularly expressed his gratefulness. Remarkably, characteristically, the more challenging a situation would become, the more Jon would want to help, delivering his strong message, --whether he could find the right words, or not. Despite his severe disabilities which effected increasing frustration and painful isolation, Jon always lovingly, tenderly attended to, supported and cared for Jane! especially in her efforts to care for him, and her struggles to maintain their aging Family-Unit. For this sweet love, kindness, patience, and the privilege to live with and care for this most precious man, Jane wishes to express deepest gratitude.

The Family wishes especially to thank the medical staff of the UW Hospital Neurology ICU. They provided the very best care possible which kept Jon comfortable and safe in each of the rapidly changing health situations through which Jon was moving. They provided the family with timely health status reports; they shared their wise, compassionate counsel with directness, professionalism, respect, honesty, patience and kindness. In the most difficult circumstances any family goes through, they were perfect healthcare providers in an impossible, imperfect situation. We are deeply grateful for the magic with which they made the worst possible outcome as comfortable and dignified for Jon, and as bearable for his loved ones, as could be possible. 

A Memorial Service for Jon will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Drive in Madison; it will be held in the new Atrium Building west of the main parking lot. A reception will follow the service. For those unable to attend the service, a link to the live-stream will be provided here on this website. To his last days Jon was an active supporter of the Southern Poverty Law Center and Harpur College, --as well as the Madison Public Library, Planned Parenthood, Second Harvest Food Bank, The YMCA, Madison Eastside Community Center, Habitat for Humanity, Americans United, ACLU and others. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to one of these organizations in Jon’s name; or that donation of a tree-planting be made in Jon’s name. Details about tree-planting donations can be found on the Cress Funeral Website.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3325 E. Washington Ave.

Madison (608) 249-6666

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com