John Robert Long

1946 - 2025

A well-loved man, John Robert Long, passed away suddenly in his home on August 15, 2025 at the age of 79. We can all rest assured that he lived brilliantly and fully every moment he had on earth. He is survived by his wife, Sara, children Alyssa Long, husband Steven, grandchildren Asher and Janey, Andrew Long, wife Tabatha, Ariel Lyon, Jordan Lyon and Alexis Friend, husband Doug and grandchildren Ashton and Jordan. He is also survived by his loving brother and sister, Jim Long and Jennifer Dick and their families. He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard. He was born and raised in Independence, Iowa and graduated in pharmacy from Drake University and received his Master in Health Administration from Columbia University.

He had a long career in healthcare leadership, and served as President and CEO of St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma, WA, Chair of the Board at Washington State Hospital Association, COO of Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, Senior Advisor to MultiCare Health System and retired as President of Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup.

A community leader in the South Puget Sound Region, he served on the boards of the Emergency Food Network, was chairman of the board at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, and Chairman of Annie Wright Schools in Tacoma, among several other worthy non-profits.

After retirement, his commitment to service continued in Tucson, AZ, as a Volunteer Forest Service Ranger in Sabino Canyon, a volunteer with the Good Samaritans in Southern Arizona, leaving food and water in the desert on migrant routes, and volunteered with Casa Alitas in Tucson, supporting immigrants and families as they came to seek safety and shelter in the U.S. He particularly loved his work at Tucson International Airport, assisting migrants and families through the airport on their way to their sponsors in other parts of the country. He was heartbroken to see the immigrant support system collapse in early 2025, and remained deeply concerned about the fears, health and well-being of the migrant community in the United States.

He was deeply spiritual, and continually evolved as a follower of Jesus, and embraced all faiths and all peoples. He was a member of Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, the first sanctuary church in the United States.

John was a lifelong golfer, a state golf champion in Iowa, and played on the golf team in college. He loved to travel, cycle, run/walk and all PNW sports teams sports, particularly the Huskies. Most of all, John loved spending time with his family and grandchildren.

He leaves behind many friends in the Pacific Northwest, and in Tucson. AZ, and will be remembered as a gregarious, charming, and an always smiling man, who cared deeply for others. We will miss him profoundly.

Services will be held in Tacoma in October and Tucson in November. Memorials in his honor can be made to the American Civil Liberties Union at aclu.org; The Florence Project at firrp.org and The Nature Conservancy at preserve.nature.org.