John Frazier Waldo

John F. Waldo, Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and legal advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing community, died peacefully in his home on Sunday, the 17th of September 2023, after a brief illness. John finished his life as he lived it, with dignity and grace, love for his family and friends, and with continuing effort to advocate for communication access for those with hearing loss. He was 77 years of age.

John was born on the 20th of September 1945, to Dr. John F. Waldo, Sr., and Margaret “Peg” Hewins, in Rochester, New York, where his father was studying medicine. The family returned to Salt Lake City, Utah, where Dr. Waldo established his practice and was instrumental in the newly created University of Utah Hospital. John had fond memories of their home in the Avenues District of Salt Lake, where as a small boy he could safely walk to Ensign Elementary, his dear grandfather’s home, the library and downtown. In 1952 John’s family moved for two years to Wurzburg, Germany, where his father served as a physician to the occupying troops. John attended St. Marks Episcopal Day School (now known as Rowland Hall,) and his love for the Episcopal Church continued throughout his life where he was known for his wise leadership and beautiful singing voice. John completed his undergraduate studies at Pomona College, Claremont, California, with a degree in journalism. There he met and married Lynn Carlson; they had two children.

After eleven years working as a journalist, John entered the University of Utah Law School, where he excelled and was on the law review. His lifelong career as a litigator began in the natural resources industry.

In May of 1994, John met Eve Leonard through their love of fine literature, and each of them knew immediately they would marry. John was a loving and inspiring father to her three children, his two children, and was an adoring grandfather to their seven grandchildren. For a brief but fulfilling time while living on Bainbridge Island, Washington, John “retired” to his first career, as a writer for The Bainbridge Review where he challenged the city council to do better, wrote brilliant editorials and features, and first publicized a major criminal case. After a brief time in Portland, Oregon, John and Eve made their permanent home in Houston.

Hard of hearing since he was a small child, John found his life’s purpose by combining his lived experience with his legal training. He became a disability rights attorney and crusader, advocate, mentor and friend to the hearing loss and deaf community. In 2008 he founded and served as counsel to Washington State Communications Access Project (Wash-CAP) , and as counsel to its sister organization, Oregon Communications Project, (Or-CAP.) He was a champion for the enforcement of federal and state disability laws for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. As a result of John’s work, many venues in our nation have become more accessible, including movie theaters, live theaters, sports venues, ferries, hospitals and online education. John’s last success, the week before he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, was an agreement with insurance to cover the cost of hearing aids, a landmark agreement that will reverberate throughout the country.

John found his second “family” of dear friends with the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA.) The national organization and individual members often served as plaintiffs in his legal efforts. People familiar with the reach of John’s work have called him a tireless advocate for disability rights, a mentor, and that his words were infused with hope and resilience, and still he demanded advancements. He understood that disability rights were not just a matter of politics but of humanity and equity. Indeed, tens of millions of lives have been made better because of his tireless and brilliant work.

John shared his love, his gentle nature, subtle humor and quiet wisdom with our family to the end. He is survived by his wife, Eve Leonard; children, Bill Olson and Katie Winters, Adrianne Sandum, Andrew Stevens and Christopher Stevens; daughters-in-law, Michelle Guyton, Gowri Stevens and Paola Stevens; sons-in-law, Tom Winters and Tyler Sandum; grandchildren, Riley and Grady Olson, Matthew Sandum, Jay and Zoe Stevens, Camilla and Victoria Stevens; and his siblings, Kathy Bubar, Jim Waldo, and Sue Schmidt.

The memorial service is to be held at twelve o'clock noon on Saturday, the 14th of October, at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, 6221 Main Street in Houston. The service will provide open live captioning and sign language interpreters. It will also be live streamed through www.Palmerchurch.org, with captions available.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be made in honor of John to www.alda.org and to Pomona College’s First Generation Fund which allows students with limited means to take full advantage of their educational opportunities, www.Pomona,edu/give, or by check specifying, Pomona College, Office of Leadership and Annual Giving, 333 N. College Way, Claremont, CA 91711 – Attn: First Generation Fund.

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