John Lee Wester
1942 - 2026
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“Dreamers dream the dream out loud.” -JLW
John Lee Wester, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away in Santa Monica, California, on March 2, 2026.
John was a union organizer, activist, social worker, and teacher. But throughout his life, he was foremost a writer. Meticulous in his use of meter, rhythm and rhyme, his narrative poetry was intended to educate and inspire, and worked as a journalist on occasion. Knowing that the working class deserve a better world, he hoped his rhymes could help bring it about. In his words, “the revolution’s always on.”
John was born in Portland, Oregon, the first child born to Wilbur and Ethel Wester, and a younger brother to Joy, Ethel's daughter from a previous relationship. He grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and had two younger siblings, Kay and Peter.
In 1957, his family relocated to La Jolla, California, where he attended Mission Bay High School in Pacific Beach. He was a standout swimmer, setting many records in breaststroke, and enjoyed open water swimming. After graduating in 1960, he attended Williams College in Williamstown Mass, where he studied history, was co-captain of the swim team, and graduated in 1964.
It was at a swim meet in high school where John met his first wife, Judy Huss, another champion swimmer from a rival school. The two married in 1963, and had four kids -- Robert, Soren, Candice, and Kimberley.
In 1968, John attended a lecture by Don Hamrick, the director of the Frontiers of Science Fellowship. John and Don connected, and John served as Director of Operations for Frontiers of Science from 1968-1970, assisting Hamrick with his lectures, research, mysterious missions, and clandestine errands. Frontiers of Science established the short-lived commune called Harbinger, at Harbin Hot Springs, near Middletown, California, where John, Judy, and Robert lived for the commune’s duration in 1968-1969.
They relocated to Mendocino, California, and eventually back to San Diego County, and settled in Julian, California.
In the late 70s and 80s, John’s adventurous spirit led him to many new beginnings. In the San Francisco Bay Area, he worked as an organizer for the labor movement. In Mexico City, he taught English at La Campana and Colegio de Mexico, and taught swimming to children and adults. Back to the states, he spent many years in Mendocino, California, working as a typesetter, picking up skills he later used to self-publish his chapbooks.
John loved technology (as long as it was by the people and for the people!). Back to San Diego with his new IBM PS2 and cutting-edge modem, he ran his own BBS to talk politics with other local leftists. He was an early advocate of the World Wide Web, and even convinced his employer -- a computer college -- that the internet was not just a fad.
John had a career at Coleman College, in La Mesa, California, from 1991 to 2014. He worked as a technical writer, and taught UNIX and Linux.
John met his second wife, Katheryn, in San Diego. They were married in 1997, and they spent over 20 years together in North Park, entertaining friends and family, and caring for their many dogs.
Retirement in 2014 returned to him what he loved most: unhurried liberty to focus on his writing.
John married Laurie Towers in 2021, and lived his final years with her in Delray Beach, Florida, and Venice, California.
He is survived by his wife, Laurie; his children, Robert Wester, Candice Bell, and Kimberley Wester; seven grandchildren; and his younger brother, Peter Wester, along with a loving extended family of nieces, nephews, and their children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Joy Langley and Kay Orr, and his son Soren Wester.
John Lee Wester, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away in Santa Monica, California, on March 2, 2026.
John was a union organizer, activist, social worker, and teacher. But throughout his life, he was foremost a writer. Meticulous in his use of meter, rhythm and rhyme, his narrative poetry was intended to educate and inspire, and worked as a journalist on occasion. Knowing that the working class deserve a better world, he hoped his rhymes could help bring it about. In his words, “the revolution’s always on.”
John was born in Portland, Oregon, the first child born to Wilbur and Ethel Wester, and a younger brother to Joy, Ethel's daughter from a previous relationship. He grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and had two younger siblings, Kay and Peter.
In 1957, his family relocated to La Jolla, California, where he attended Mission Bay High School in Pacific Beach. He was a standout swimmer, setting many records in breaststroke, and enjoyed open water swimming. After graduating in 1960, he attended Williams College in Williamstown Mass, where he studied history, was co-captain of the swim team, and graduated in 1964.
It was at a swim meet in high school where John met his first wife, Judy Huss, another champion swimmer from a rival school. The two married in 1963, and had four kids -- Robert, Soren, Candice, and Kimberley.
In 1968, John attended a lecture by Don Hamrick, the director of the Frontiers of Science Fellowship. John and Don connected, and John served as Director of Operations for Frontiers of Science from 1968-1970, assisting Hamrick with his lectures, research, mysterious missions, and clandestine errands. Frontiers of Science established the short-lived commune called Harbinger, at Harbin Hot Springs, near Middletown, California, where John, Judy, and Robert lived for the commune’s duration in 1968-1969.
They relocated to Mendocino, California, and eventually back to San Diego County, and settled in Julian, California.
In the late 70s and 80s, John’s adventurous spirit led him to many new beginnings. In the San Francisco Bay Area, he worked as an organizer for the labor movement. In Mexico City, he taught English at La Campana and Colegio de Mexico, and taught swimming to children and adults. Back to the states, he spent many years in Mendocino, California, working as a typesetter, picking up skills he later used to self-publish his chapbooks.
John loved technology (as long as it was by the people and for the people!). Back to San Diego with his new IBM PS2 and cutting-edge modem, he ran his own BBS to talk politics with other local leftists. He was an early advocate of the World Wide Web, and even convinced his employer -- a computer college -- that the internet was not just a fad.
John had a career at Coleman College, in La Mesa, California, from 1991 to 2014. He worked as a technical writer, and taught UNIX and Linux.
John met his second wife, Katheryn, in San Diego. They were married in 1997, and they spent over 20 years together in North Park, entertaining friends and family, and caring for their many dogs.
Retirement in 2014 returned to him what he loved most: unhurried liberty to focus on his writing.
John married Laurie Towers in 2021, and lived his final years with her in Delray Beach, Florida, and Venice, California.
He is survived by his wife, Laurie; his children, Robert Wester, Candice Bell, and Kimberley Wester; seven grandchildren; and his younger brother, Peter Wester, along with a loving extended family of nieces, nephews, and their children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Joy Langley and Kay Orr, and his son Soren Wester.
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