We miss you, Jon, every day.
Banks, Jonathan Martin, 35. Died Monday, March 15, 2010 in Beachwood, Ohio. Born October 1, 1974, Columbus, Ohio. Jonathan had a twenty-year career in the culinary arts, beginning with Sumenos restaurant, which led to studying Culinary Arts at Columbus State. Respected and loved by all he came into contact with, he moved up the ranks with the 55 Group (Columbus), Cheesecake Factory (Columbus, St. Louis, Boston) and most recently as Executive Chef at Brio Tuscan Grille (Beachwood, OH).
Jon loved his work, but regularly found time to spend with friends and family, and to share his reassuring presence. A kid at heart, he made a point to introduce his love of Transformers and Hot Wheels toys to his nephew, with whom he had a special bond. This relationship, close friends say, helped direct him toward having a family of his own. He was also a talented painter and photographer. An admirer of Ansel Adams, Jon loved nature and visiting Yosemite National Park, CA, where many of his black & white photographs originated.
He attended schools at St. Michael, Worthington, Worthington Kilbourne, Ohio State (Psychology), and Columbus State (Hotel/Hospitality Mgmt). Jon was a member of the first graduating class at Worthington Kilbourne High School in 1993.
Preceded in death by grandparents Joseph and Sara Banks; grandparents Jay and Anna Mae Skaggs; cousin Benjamin Englehart; uncle Obera Jay Skaggs; uncle David Englehart; cousin Carl Skaggs, and aunt Linda Udvari.
Survived by beloved girlfriend Jaime Turner, Mayfield Hts., OH; mother Melinda Roberta Banks, Estero, FL; father Joseph (Diane) Banks Jr., M.D., Columbus, OH; brothers Joseph (Sheryl) Banks, Cleveland, OH, and Thomas (Giselle) Banks, Alameda, CA; nephew David Banks; aunts Barbara Skaggs, Marysville, OH, and Anne Englehart, Wadsworth, OH; uncle Ray (Lois) Skaggs, Martinsville, IN; and cousins Christopher (Lisa) Englehart, Jennifer (Tim) Tavanello, Chris (Jerry) McClain, Carla (Joe) Reinhard, Kay (Carl) Mickley, Michael Skaggs, and Teresa Skaggs.
Family and friends may call 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 26 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, OH 43221-2841 where funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 27, 2010. Interment Wesley Chapel Cemetery, 3225 Dublin Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026-2304.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to a dear friend’s cause that Jon strongly supported: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851, (203) 229-0464, www.themmrf.org, in Jon’s memory.
View a collection of photos of Jon collected by friends and family