Jay Paul VanSant

Jay VanSant was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on May 9th, 1949 to James David VanSant and Lenore Carothers. He has two older sisters, Martha (Mitzi) and Jane. He grew up in Pasco, Washington. He started a mad scientist’s club with his life-long friend Cliff Brown, was a ham radio enthusiast, loved yoga and swimming and graduated high school in Libby, Montana. He attended college at both University of Washington and University of Chicago, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Chicago.

Jay was briefly married to his girlfriend whom he met at University of Chicago, Karin Donker. He also met Dale Larson at University of Chicago, who remained a close friend throughout his life.  After college, he followed a myriad of paths. He was a deeply spiritual person, and his way-seeking mind led him to Shasta Abbey, where he became a lay disciple. His philosophy and approach to life were born out of his life-long Zen practice. His adventures took him across the country multiple times before he arrived in Lincoln City, Oregon. Jay fell in love with Barbara Tracy, and they began their journey through life together at Roads End in Lincoln City. Jay and Barbara were married in 1975.

Jay and Barbara started their family with twin daughters (Kaitlyn and Janine) followed by Julie’s birth 4.5 years later. Jay began working as a screen printer at Western Graphics but soon decided to start a screen-printing company, Dharma Brothers, with his friend John Lafky. Jay’s creativity and profound sense of fun was a key part of Dharma Brothers, which sold t-shirts with intricate designs inspired by their philosophy and spirituality. 

After Dharma Brothers, Jay transitioned toward a career in software engineering. He earned a bachelor’s in mathematics at Portland State University and took graduate courses in software engineering at the Oregon Graduate Center. His software engineering career was largely focused on quality assurance, and he worked for a variety of software companies, including Mentor Graphics, ParcPlace Systems, GemStone Systems, Brokat Technologies, Symantec Corporation and Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA).

Beyond his formal studies, he was a profoundly curious person and a voracious student of many subjects, ranging from science to history and philosophy. He would devour technical material, alongside content related to Buddhism, physics and philosophy and then talk to those he loved about how all these topics were inter-related. He also loved science fiction and detective stories. Perhaps his favorite movie was The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, with his favorite quote being, “no matter where you go, there you are”.

Jay was a dedicated member of the Dharma Rain Zen Center for over 30 years, where he taught numerous meditation classes. His Zen name was Keido Dosho, which means “footsteps on the path”. In his retirement, he taught workshops on Zen principles and meditation techniques at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility. He volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Canby. He also loved playing Santa Claus, bringing awe and joy to both big and little kids. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, teacher and friend, who inspired many people who were fortunate enough to share his path. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, his sisters (Mitzi and Jane), his daughters (Kaitlyn, Janine and Julie) and his granddaughters (Ellie, Violet and Tori), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

It is particularly difficult to describe someone who eschewed the concept of “self”, as part of his Buddhist beliefs. No description could come close to describing Jay, but his presence was like a light that shone as a radiant beacon from a body that failed him too early. His Parkinson’s took so much from him, but it never took that inner light. We will always miss him, but that inner light that shone so bright in Jay can still be found in the best parts of each of us. We are all made of stars…but perhaps some more than others. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon on August 23rd, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Memorial gifts can be made to the Dharma Rain Zen Center, the Canby St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank and/ or the OHSU Brain Institute for Parkinson's Research.