In Memory of Jon Lasser

November 10, 1975 – September 23, 2025

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our friend and colleague, Jon Lasser, on Tuesday, September 23.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, and most recently was hospitalized due to breathing difficulties, subsequently moving to home hospice and then inpatient hospice. He leaves behind his wife Laura and his two children, Judah and Hannah.

Jon went to the six-week workshop in 2016, and quickly became a deeply interconnected part of the organization and our greater writing community. He hosted parties at his home, served on the development committee, and was an insightful and welcome voice on the board. 

Jon’s stories have appeared in Lightspeed, Analog, Interzone, Galaxy’s Edge, and many others. Patrick Hurley, Betsy Aoki, and K.G. Anderson have put together a collection of short stories, tentatively titled “Unfinished Conversations,” and are currently talking with publishers. More information on this project will be forthcoming. If you’d like to learn more about this project, you can contact Betsy at .

From Emma Osborne, Class of 2016: 

It’s heartbreaking to know that Jon Lasser, a well-loved member of our Clarion West class, has passed. We all bonded so quickly after we arrived that even after the first weekend in the house in Seattle, I knew that we were all family. Jon extended that welcome by hosting the class at his family home on a number of occasions, and introducing us to his wife, Laura, and his wonderful children, Judah and Hannah, who I can hardly believe are teenagers now. 

Jon wrote a lot of dark works, challenging works. He dug into his heart to show us his scars, and was there for us when we did the same. He gave insightful critique, and he helped to make our stories stronger. He bought prop swords for the house so we could sword fight on the lawn, and kept the downstairs fridge well-stocked with craft beers. He got the arsenic tattoo, like many of us did, and lived true to what it represents – a healing poison. A purging of what hurts us and what heals. 

Jon and his work will live on in our hearts. Goodbye, my friend.

Many additional members of Jon’s class and the Clarion West Community sent their remembrances: 

Gunnar Norskog (CW ‘16)

Even in a class filled with compassionate, thoughtful people, Jon Lasser was our moral compass, a guiding star of generous, selfless service and wisdom. He was funny and smart and kindhearted and we will miss him dearly.

Misha Stone, Former Board Secretary

Jon was one of the first people I met at my first Locus Awards. He was so kind and it was the year before he got into Clarion West. He saved my bacon, too, as it was my first year hosting author events with Clarion West and he let me know I had the wrong date on file for the upcoming event with Samuel Delany—quite sincerely, his kindness saved me on the score in what was the likely the last time Chip came to Seattle (2013). Over the years I got to know him, Laura, and his kids, but am sad I did not get to know them better. It was also lovely serving on the board with Jon—he was a calm presence and his care and support for Clarion West was so apparent. I feel as though I just saw Jon at WorldCon, and wish we had shared a meal or longer conversation together there. Thinking of his family and extended CW family as we honor and mourn him.

L. D. Lewis, Clarion West Development Director

I only met Jon in-person once at this past Norwescon. He was witty, charming, and insightful, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to experience him. My love to his family and to those of you who knew him better. 

Tegan Moore (CW ‘15)

A while ago, Jon sent me a thoughtful, insightful short note after reading one of my stories in a magazine, to say he’d read it and appreciated it. Jon was a friend, but not many friends think [to] do this. It was a remarkably thoughtful thing for him to do and something I greatly appreciated. By reaching out like that, he inspired me to do the same–to make other writers feel heard, and to help them keep going. Writing can be a lonely place. We need to reach out to one another. Jon had a big heart, and I’ll miss him.

Rashida Smith (CW ‘05), Clarion West Program Director

I met Jon and Laura when I moved to Seattle from California (for the second time!). Jon always seemed happy to see you, no matter how long it had been or how well he knew you. Over the years, I loved seeing their tight-knit family moving through the writing community. One of my favorite CW era pictures is of Yang-Yang, Jon, Misha, and me on Alki Beach at an outdoor six-week party. I remember finally feeling like I was home.

I moved to Ballard over a year ago; it turns out to be just a few blocks from Jon and Laura. In true Seattle fashion, we always had ‘some day’ plans for getting the kids together for a BBQ or a game. I’m so sorry we never managed to do that while Jon was here. I’ll carry those missed moments with me, but I’m grateful to have gotten to know him.

Stewart Baker, Clarion West Board Member

Jon was my roommate during Writers of the Future in 2016, and our families got together a couple of times in the years after. 

Although we didn’t get in touch frequently, he was always generous with his time and genuinely cared about others. He will be missed!

Remy Nakamura (CW ‘10), Clarion West Board Member

I started to get to know Jon over a couple of meals at conventions this year. He spent time helping this newbie board member better understand Clarion West’s recent incarnations. At WorldCon he was also very open about his illness. I was deeply impressed with his transparency, generosity of spirit and earnest sincerity. I wish I had had more time to get to know him.

Izzy Wasserstein (CW ‘17), Clarion West Board Vice Chair
I didn’t know Jon as well as I would have liked to, but from the first time we met, it was clear how kind, warm, and community-minded he was. His love for Clarion West was rooted in his love for people, both as members of the community and as individuals. May his memory be a blessing.

Elly Bangs (CW ‘17), Clarion West Database Specialist

This is a devastating loss in so many different circles — Clarion West, Two Hour Transport, the local Team Arsenic folks. He was such a cherished fixture of every community he was part of, and the room always lit up when he walked in. Many people will always dearly miss him, including me. I’m sending all my love to his family.

Jae Steinbacher (CW ‘14)

I don’t remember exactly when I first met Jon—I think it may have been during a party at a con—but despite it being a number of years ago, I remember how excited he was to meet a fellow Clarion West alum, his passion for the workshop, and the funny coincidence that we shared an alma mater. His commitment to Clarion West and role as a welcoming community member only increased over time. Jon and Laura held many summer parties for the workshop over the years, offering weary and homesick students a space to connect with Seattle writers and have some fun between writing stories. He connected his entire family to Clarion West, bringing his kids along whenever appropriate. As a steadfast member of Clarion West’s board, Jon was active in discussions about the future of the organization and often brought up points that hadn’t yet been considered. Even as he had less energy and more treatment appointments to work around, he attended as many instructor selection meetings, alumni committee meetings, and other workshop trainings as he could. He gave much of himself to the organization.

Jon will be greatly missed for many things, but his warmth, his stories, and his commitment to Clarion West vastly stand out.

Marnee Chua, Clarion West Executive Director
I met Jon when I first started working at Clarion West. He was so welcoming and easy to talk to. We quickly discovered that we both love diving and immediately set out making plans to go together. Jon and Laura invited me to try their extra dry suit and share dive stories. It’s a treasure to find someone that you can enjoy diving in the Pacific Northwest with, someone who enjoys the opportunity to be underwater as well as the, often nonsensical, project of putting on a drysuit and tank. We were lucky enough to go diving a couple of times, despite both having busy lives. Jon later joined the development committee and then the board of directors and was always incredibly thoughtful about each approach and decision for the organization — all because he cared so much about the writers and community that we work with. It has been a privilege to work with him. 

If you’d like to comment directly for Jon’s family, you can visit his CaringBridge page.