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Jonathan Straley Obituary
Mr. Straley graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Art History. After working several years for the Delaware Art Museum, he went to California to study Landscape Architecture at the University of California/Berkeley. While a student at UCB, he worked as an exhibition installer for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and subsequently served on the SFMOMA staff from 1978-81. Mr. Straley joined John Wheatman and Associates as a designer in 1982, and in 1996 established his own firm. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Straley worked as lead and principal interior designer with Alamosa Design, a Bay Area architectural firm. His commitment to the fine arts led him to serve on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art at SFMOMA, uniting young collectors with emerging artists.
Mr. Straley collaborated on the interior design of residences in California, Washington, Minnesota, New Mexico, Idaho, Texas and Mexico. His work was featured in many publications including the San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle, Home and Garden, Interior Design and House Beautiful.
Mr. Straley, a lifelong bachelor, was the youngest son of George Robert Straley and Amelia Scott Straley Hubbard, both deceased, of Wilmington Delaware. Jonathan Straley was greatly loved and will be missed by his sister and brother-in-law, Lee Straley and Daniel Hubert, his brother and sister-in-law, Christian and Linda Straley, his brother and sister-in-law Stephen and Kathleen Straley, his two nieces, Elizabeth Straley and Emily Straley, his colleagues and many true friends.
A memorial for Jonathan will be held this fall; details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Jonathan Straley to Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jonathan Straley
Sponsored by Cid Young - Moss Beach, CA.
Mary Cordaro
July 16, 2025
I think of Jono so often. Miss him like crazy.
Christian Straley
July 16, 2023
A gentle soul.
Richard
August 14, 2021
Another time , Richard Banks and I had dropped by his place one afternoon. What was suppose to be a quick stop turned into an entire afternoon. Including lunch and cocktails. My first impression of him was " A very funny guy."
miss you your smile
An artistic young man.
Christian Straley
July 15, 2020
I think of Jono everyday and miss him everyday.
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Jonathan Straley with Balance, as a Puppy
Cid Young
April 23, 2020
August 10, 2019
Just a reminder. Life is more about living than dying. Thanks for the wonderful memories Jono! fondly Richard
Pearl Banks
Your freind Richard
August 9, 2019
Aloha & Mary b. Blond
Your freind Richard
August 9, 2019
Candi Cotton
Your freind Richard
August 9, 2019
Don't Ask
Your freind Richard
August 9, 2019
Seductive Suki
Your freind Richard
August 9, 2019
Miss Minnie
Your freind Richard
August 9, 2019
Lee Hubert
July 28, 2019
Jono left us just a little over five years ago in July 2014. He is still in my thoughts every day. He was a wonderful creative brother.
Having just come back from a trip to Nimes and Arles, I remembered vividly the summer Jono spent with me and my roommate in Paris in 1969 before taking off for a trip to the south of France and Spain. Nimes & Arles were only the itinerary, and I have a great photo of Jono with all his curls at the Maison Carrée in Nimes playing with a stray cat. The other thing that triggered my memory this summer was the 50th anniversary of the Apollo mission to the moon. We continued on to Spain a little later that summer, and we were there when they landed on the moon. We went to a little bar that evening to have a "tinto", and the landing was showing on a tiny TV. Everyone in the place toasted the landing on the moon with cries of "Bravo!", and they toasted us too just because we were Americans. It was great fun!
Jono was a great traveling companion then and continued to be a great traveler in his later life. What a shame that he left us way too early. Thinking of you Jono, and miss you so much!
Cory Aden-Wansbury
March 26, 2019
Well, I'm a little late, but I just found out. He was a wonderful guy, and I was blessed to know him. He did a wonderful house for me in the 80's, when I needed a boost, and he was so gracious and generous. His outfits, when I visited him out of the office, to round on the shops and sources for the project, were humorously wild! He flew up to be the major-domo at the house warming.
He taught me much, and I'm still living amidst that legacy as I look around me now.
Thanks and Love, Jono
Elizabeth Martin
October 16, 2017
I was just looking up Jono to visit him this December in SF. So saddened to learn of his passing.. brought me to my knees. Many, many wonderful memories of time shared together.. mostly laughing or exploring art. I miss him in the world... love to Straley family and other friends. Elizabeth Martin (a Delaware friend)
Thomas Ziv
October 5, 2014
This photo is of a sculpture Jono made and gave me many years ago with a cast of his teeth. Jono was one of the first people I and my wife were introduced to when we landed in San Francisco in the early 1980's and we proceeded to have an on going, high quality, very, very good time for many years. After introducing him to my friends, relatives and associates, he was consistently referred to as one of the most charming hosts they had ever met and they became his friends as well. I believe I witnessed some of his important personal moments and hated seeing him in such an incapacitated state. I hope he's liberated as he should be and I say farewell my friend Jono.
Linda Petri
September 18, 2014
HI - my original was 7/29, and I forgot to sign it! When is the memorial?
Jono's surprise.
Cheryl R. Riley
September 17, 2014
The Costa Rica wedding Devera is referring to was for me and my wife, Courtney Sloane. Jono had told me that, sadly, he would not be able to come to the wedding and we were so sad about that. The day before the wedding was our Rehersal and Beach party in beautiful Avellanas and all of a sudden, we looked up and JONO was walking toward us in typical high style! He wanted to surprise us and he did. Bearing vintage Boucheron jewelry for us--a bracelet for me and ring for Courtney. He was the dance partner of choice for all the women at the reception and I will always cherish the memory if the great party he threw for all of us at his villa the next night.
That was one of many great soirees of his to which I was lucky enough to be invited. In fact, when I first met him in 1990 at John Wheaton & Associate where he was the head designer, he invited me to a party at his very cool space the very next night. Years after, he would recount in detail every item I wore at that first meeting because he was style epitomized.
Jono in Costa Rica 2/2007
Devera & Michael Witkin
September 5, 2014
We met Jono in Costa Rica at the wedding of our mutual friends, Cheryl and Courtney in February 2007. He was a joyful, spirited man. Over the intervening years we heard that he was not well. We are saddened by his death, but we have been left with wonderful memories of our short time with him (only one week). After the wedding, when most of the attendees had left, we joined Jono in his rented 4x4, and drove to a beach which, as far as we could see, was totally devoid of civilization, and absolutely beautiful. Then he drove ONTO the beach, with the 4x4 barely clearing narrow patches of huge rocks, to the end of the beach where there was a shack and a table under a large umbrella. Jono said something in Spanish to a woman who came out to greet us, and we sat down. Drinks followed by the most incredible platters of just caught seafood kept coming throughout the beautiful afternoon. We never found out how Jono had discovered this private nirvana. But it was a day we will never forget.
Our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
Chris Straley
September 5, 2014
Jonathan was my youngest brother. He was suddenly Jonathan when I called his workplace and asked for Jono. They said they would connect me with Jonathan. It didn't matter. He has always been Jono to me. He was about five years younger so we never shared schools. He was Arts and I was Sciences so we were in different spheres. When Jono was finishing his degree, we got together on Wilbur Street at the University of Delaware. It was a relaxed place where we shared friends and I became acquainted with the adult Jono, who had blossomed while I was away at college and working abroad. He was gregarious and had a wide circle of friends. He started working at the Delaware Art Museum and it was a pleasure to see him grow. It was a bold adventure when he went off to San Francisco to make his mark on the world, which he did.
Shelley Diekman
August 20, 2014
Jono was intelligent, talented, and charming. San Francisco will miss his kind presence.
Steve & Barbara Hischier
August 19, 2014
Jonathan experienced a long and interesting career in design and we were fortunate to be along for the ride. We first met Jonathan in 1984 and through the years he was an invaluable asset in creating comfortable and beautiful homes for us while making the journey such fun. We see him every day everywhere in our home...thank you, Jonathan!
Jono & Lee in 1969
Lee Hubert
August 18, 2014
Jono was an absolutely marvelous little brother. Cute as he could be when he was a kid, and still handsome in later years. What a wonderful, creative person he was! Over the years I saw many photos of the homes he helped decorate, and I'm sure the people he worked for appreciated his good ideas, his sense of economy,and his fabulous color sense. I am still reeling from the finality of his death, but he will be with me forever, my wonderful lovable baby brother Jono.
Scott Jones
August 7, 2014
My happiest memory of Jono was the day I took him clothes shopping. He certainly didn't need or want my advice on the subject - he knew my idea of looking good was to choose a pair of jeans slightly less awful than my others - but he needed my car. He was staying with Mary and me and wanted to visit a section of Sunset known for its exclusive boutiques. Mary was busy, so it was just Jono and Scott. I think this is the only time I ever spent hours with Jono all by myself. I was honored. I accompanied him as he buzzed in and out of places I'd seen before but had never dared to enter. Once inside, I was insulted by the prices and astonished by the clothes. He wasn't the least intimidated by anything or anyone. He was so happy. He laughed at what appalled me, sometimes purposely picking something that he knew was horrible, just to get a rise out of me, then managing to conjure the one piece in the place that was truly beautiful. In one boutique he found a coral-colored sweater, tried it on and bought it on the spot, without seeking my, or anyone elses approval. He knew it was brilliant. It made his face, already a bit peachy from the L.A. sun, glow even brighter. That face, as he smiled freely, enjoying his own enjoyment, is the one I will go on remembering.
Kent Roberts
August 4, 2014
I met Jono when he was on the installation crew at SFMOMA in the early eighties. I was the new guy and Jono generously took me under his wing. Jono was always a great supporter of my art career thru his design practice. Thru the years I gained much knowledge from his design sense. Whenever I do something artful Jono's influence will be part of that. I will miss you very much Jono.
Ann Jones
August 2, 2014
Jono, I really can't believe you are gone. You were a wonderful friend, a great date, and a talent supreme. Thank you for being part of my life. Ann Jones
July 29, 2014
My condolences to Jonathan's family; I am so sorry to hear of his passing. I can only hope that all the wonderful art we bonded over was still dancing around in his head, even if he couldn't speak, and that his wonderful talents and love of art will show up in some new reincarnation.
July 29, 2014
Jono, you were and will always be one of the most important people in my life, like family. I can still feel your generous, lighthearted spirit. You opened my eyes to beauty, elegance a whole world of life long friendships, and a delight in living life. I feel so fortunate to have known you for so long, and yet not nearly long enough. How can you be gone so soon? It's still completely incomprehensible. Wherever you are, I send you love and gratitude. Mary Cordaro
Jono's Birds in Patio Area off Kitchen
Cid Young
July 27, 2014
Jono's Office & Rooftop Deck on Shotwell St.
Cid Young
July 27, 2014
Rear View from Rooftop Deck facing Folsom St.
Cid Young
July 27, 2014
Living room on Shotwell Street
Cid Young
July 27, 2014
Interior Design Office on Shotwell Street
Cid Young
July 27, 2014
Susan and Gary
July 27, 2014
We miss you, Jono. You'll always be in our hearts with love. Susan and Gary
Perez Joseph
July 26, 2014
Jonathan,
I will miss your warm smile, kind heart and gentle words.
I'll never forget you.
Inge-Lise and Jack Lane
July 25, 2014
Jonathan, our generous talented friend, it was all much more fun with you here. We miss you. You brought beauty and elegance and warmth into our lives and homes, and we will always be surrounded by that glow. Thank you dear Jono
Robert Martin
July 23, 2014
Jonathan you were a dear man. I will always remember you fondly and enjoyed working with you throughout your career. My heartfelt sympathy to your family and loved ones. You will be missed by many but forgotten by none.
One in a Million...
Cid Young
July 23, 2014
Kent Roberts and Jonathan Straley in the Eighties
Cid Young
July 23, 2014
Dale Brown, Bill & Vanessa Getty & Jonathan Straley
Cid Young
July 23, 2014
MIchael Bello
July 23, 2014
I knew Jonathan through San Francisco's Interior Design Community. I would run into him at Industry Parties and also out and about in San Francisco. He always had that warm welcoming smile. He will be missed.
Jonathan Straley at the San Francisco Design Center
Cid Young
July 23, 2014
Jonathan, over the years was a true, dear friend with so many wonderful traits. He was a very talented Interior Designer, before his stroke which left him paralyzed. His Interior Design clients included Rita Moreno who now lives in the East Bay, and he also worked with Al Gore on his place at the St. Regis, in San Francisco. My friend, Jonathan, was a kind, creative person, who always had fantastic parties and had quite the career for himself, making tons of friends along the way. One of them, Allyn Davis, even drove up from L.A. on a weekend, just to see him when she heard that he would not be with us much longer. I can't give enough praise for the caring, attentive staff at Laguna Honda, in San Francisco, either. I'm sure, had he been able to speak, he certainly would have told us all how much he had loved life, and the joys he'd savored along the way. He leaves behind, not only his family, but hundreds of loving friends that will keep his memory warm and alive in their hearts, forever. He will be truly missed.
Cynthia Glinka
July 23, 2014
Blessings to Jonathan's family and friends. What a fun ride in the 80's we enjoyed.
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