John Thomas Ovenshine

June 19, 1962 - November 28, 2018

Residence:  Palo Alto, California 

John Thomas Ovenshine a gentle, caring man who loved his family, Stanford sports and all-things dogs died Nov. 28, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. He was 56.

John was born June 19, 1962, in Santa Monica, California, to Tom and Elinor Ovenshine four minutes after identical twin brother Gordon. The boys invented their own language as toddlers. "Turks and blabs" (tall trees) and no deep "fuvy" (ocean) survive to this day.

John attended Walter Hays Elementary School, Jordan Middle School and Palo Alto High School. He shined as a student, athlete, trumpeter and friend. He excelled as a pitcher in Little League,  liked Boy Scout camping trips and the 1974 summer in Alaska when the boys worked as apprentice geologists for their father. In high school John excelled as a swimmer and water polo player. He was thin, good looking and likeable. He taught himself guitar and over the years bought and sold many instruments.  He loved overnights at his Hyle grandparents’ Palo Alto Avenue apartment.

After the Ovenshine family relocated to Virginia in 1980, John enrolled at Ohio University. He majored in psychology and established a reputation as an easy-going friend. A black student in the dorm told John he was the only white person that made an effort to befriend him.

After graduating, John relocated to Seattle, where he met and married Alexandra Hollman. They had two children, Thomas 26, and Alissa 24.

In 1988 John relocated to the Bay Area. He held various jobs and followed Stanford football religiously, rarely missing a home game with friends. Stanford sports, especially football, was a life-long passion. John had the best memory in the family and easily recalled past players, bowl appearances and family vacations going back decades. 

Sister Sally Dockter regarded him as a wonderful brother and brave to mom and dad when dad was terminally ill. Gordon said he was a calm, loyal brother.

John’s favorite things included his children, music, football, reading history and his Brittany (dog), "Mallet". He liked the Cheese House, the Baylands and cheeseburgers. You can’t be an Ovenshine without hamburgers.

In his final years, John worked at managing a chronic illness and double-downed with Mallet. They were inseparable, even sleeping in the same room and using a kinetic mental connection that enabled them to decide when it was time to “go up for the night.”

Aside from his children, John’s greatest joy was the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto which he supported with all his heart. John volunteered there for 10 years, in treasury and other roles. He played guitar in the Spirit Band. As always, he was valued and liked. The church gave him an office and computer to use and he checked in at the church almost every day.

John helped his parents tremendously.  His mother never wavered in her love and care for her son. They were close and enjoyed Stanford sports, the Baylands and “treats", especially ice cream and chocolate cake. John loved his mother’s ham salad and pot roast.

John hugely admired his late father Tom. His dog, "Mallet" was named as a tribute to his father’s geological career and field hammer. Just hours before his father's own death, he regained lucidity and called John to his bedside and said, “Goodbye, John”.

Goodbye John.

Fare thee well.