Jonathan Fox, longtime Downey Patriot production assistant, dies

I’m really sorry if you didn’t know Jonathan Fox.

He was one of the funniest, coolest, most down-to-earth people I’ve ever known.

Was.

I can’t believe I’m using his name in past tense.

Jonathan died unexpectedly Sunday. He was a production assistant at the Downey Patriot, meaning he designed the ads you see in the newspaper. He was a jack of all trades, working on the legal notices, website, classifieds, and other day-to-day tasks of a community newspaper.

People are often amazed when they learn I’ve been at the Patriot since 2002. Well, Jonathan was here even longer than me.

John Adams, the original editor and publisher of the Patriot, hired Jonathan after the Downey Eagle folded. Jonathan was on the yearbook staff at Columbus High School and came highly recommended by Darrell Jackson, who at the time was executive director of the 10-20 Club, a nonprofit that helps young men and women get their lives back on track.

What a great recommendation. Jonathan stuck around for 24 years.

Jonathan smoked cigarettes. He drew dragons. He often carried a dagger. I say this to paint a picture of who Jonathan was.

In his 24 years at the Patriot, I never heard Jonathan raise his voice. Instead, he’d sigh and maybe roll his eyes, and eventually get back to work.

Jonathan didn’t hang out with coworkers off the clock. I texted him last month asking if he was planning to attend the voluntary Downey Coordinating Council dinner where the Downey Patriot had a table. His response: “lol”

It’s not that Jonathan didn’t like his coworkers. I think he understood that the Patriot was a job. It didn’t define him. He would rather be home with his kids and family, and who can blame him for that.

A formal obituary will be published at a later date but in the meantime, it felt necessary to acknowledge his passing. Jonathan’s loss leaves a deep wound at the Downey Patriot, and he will be missed more than he probably ever would have believed.