Jonathan W. Rolon (Jon, Jonnie-Wonnie, Bright Eyes, Speedstick, J.R., Daddy), age 53, holding the hands of his beloved wife of 25 years and “handsome” older brother, peacefully drew his final breath on April 2, 2024 following complications related to pancreatic cancer, diagnosed only 65 days earlier.
Jon, “the cute brother,” was born on April 29, 1970, in the Bronx, New York, and began his pilgrimage journey and many adventures in this life between there and Vails Gate, New York. Jon was proud to serve his country as a member of the Army National Guard in Newburgh, New York as a Cannon Fire Direction Specialist during the First Gulf War, and then with the New York Air National Guard at Stewart (105AW) as an Avionics Guidance and Controls Systems Specialist on the C5A Galaxy aircraft where he distinguished himself as a gyroscopic attitudinal systems expert. Cross-training into the Communications Squadron as an Information Security Systems Analyst, Jon honorably retired his military career after 28 years. He has been awarded the Army and Air Force Commendation Medals and the Meritorious Service Medal. Jon continued to thrive in his chosen profession as a Cyber Security Engineer and Analyst at the Pentagon, DARPA, and CENTCOM. Jon credited his family and colleagues as the key to his military and occupational successes. Career opportunities took him through the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) metro area, Florida, and ultimately relocated him in the final five years of his life to live in the Middle East where he was diagnosed with cancer. Our family will be forever grateful to the Qatari medical and other professionals, International SOS, and SAIC Team for getting Jon safely home to the United States and to his family. We are also grateful for the many wonderful and amazing medical and other professionals at the Hampton VA Medical Center, Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Brock Cancer Center, Sentara Leigh Hospital, and Gentiva and Wings Over Virginia Hospice agencies who ensured Jon a compassionate, dignified, and peaceful passing. You are tremendously great humans!
Jon was a man of diverse passions and intellect. Primarily, he treasured time home with his family playing games or puzzles or enjoying a bonfire, good meal, and a craft beer or three. Jon prized food and was proud of our kitchen-crafting and delicious forays into bold, fresh, and vibrant flavors. He loved reading, and devoured books on history, especially pirates, politics, and paradigms of belief. Whether home improvements, furniture-making, or homesteading, Jon researched and courageously tackled even the most daunting tasks. Jon loved exploring, whether we were throwing toothbrushes in a pillowcase and heading out to vast unknowns and new discoveries, or mini-golf with flair, camping, auto off-roading, fishing, scuba diving, amateur photography, learning to fly a helicopter, or planning a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail or the Camino de Santiago, Jon tackled it with delight. He will be extraordinarily missed.
Jon, “the nice one,” was esteemed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He is survived by his generous and thoughtful wife, Jeni; gifted, resourceful, and clever sons, Stephen and Jonathan; amazingly creative bonus daughter, Morgan, and her beautiful and intelligent daughters; doting father, Jim; best friend and brother, Jimmy; his dog, the Diva herself, Miss Mika; and is also mourned by many uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, and colleagues. He is predeceased by his mother, Judy, and her husband, Henry, and a menagerie of barnyard critters and beloved pets.
An intimate service will be planned for the future to honor Jon’s legacy.
