Jonathan B. Hand

On Wednesday, November 6, 2019, Jonathan Hand, beloved son, brother, and teacher, died at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  His death marked the end of a long battle with a chronic illness.

Jonathan Bradford Hand was born on July 6, 1958 in Redwood City, CA.  He was a born student and teacher, receiving his BA in Government from Harvard in 1981 and his PhD from the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago in 2002.  Over the course of his long teaching career, he sparked the curiosity of thousands of students while teaching at a broad range of schools, including the Colorado Springs School, the University of Chicago, Furman University in South Carolina, and a sailing program on Cayuga Lake.  In 2003 he secured his dream position as a Tutor (professor) at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, where he reveled in leading seminars, sharing the Great Books, and debating ideas from the classical Western Liberal Arts curriculum.

Jonathan would have described himself as an Epicurean.  Simple pleasures brought him joy: a good book, a great meal, fine wine, spirited conversation.  He had a sharp wit and did great comedic impressions. He knew and spoke many languages (ancient Greek, French, and Italian) and enjoyed striking up conversations with locals on his extensive travels to inquire about authentic restaurants or hidden beaches.  He loved all things water, including sailing, windsurfing, swimming, and scuba diving. But most of all he loved teaching young people. His recent lecture on Hegel was standing-room-only and inspired a spirited debate among the faculty and students who had packed the room.

Jonathan is survived by his parents, Louis and Elizabeth Hand of Ithaca, NY, his three sisters, Brooke Gifford (of Saratoga Springs, NY), Pattie Hand (of New York City), and Sonya Stover (of Hanover, NH), as well as several nieces and nephews.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 30th at 11am, with Rev. Dale Ford, friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00 prior to the service, at Bangs Funeral Home in Ithaca, NY. A separate service will be held in Santa Fe in January for his colleagues and students. Cards and flowers may be sent to the Hand family at 2009 Savage Farm Dr., Ithaca NY 14850.  Donations can be made to the Johnnie Scholarship Fund online at https://community.stjohnscollege.edu/giving or by mail ℅ Dean Walter Sterling, Weigle Hall, St. John’s College, 1160 Camino de Cruz Blanca, Santa Fe, NM 87505.

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Saturday, November 30, 2019 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Bangs Funeral Home, Inc. 209 W Green St. Ithaca, New York 14850

Saturday, November 30, 2019 11:00 AM

Bangs Funeral Home, Inc. 209 W Green St. Ithaca, New York 14850