Responding to Tragedy: Parents, Community Commemorate the Life of Former Pinewood Student Jonathan Zhao

Bill and Suzanna Zhao, Jonathan Zhao’s parents, appeared through a tiny Zoom screen as Bill told a short story about his late son. Speaking in a somber and melancholic tone, Jonathan’s parents talked about their son’s kindness and perseverance.

Bill said that Jonathan’s empathy really showed one day after an experience with a homeless person near the restaurant Chef Chu’s in Los Altos. When Bill stopped at a red light, Jonathan called out to a homeless person on the side of the road.

“He opened the window, and he had some food and drink prepared for that homeless guy,” Bill said. “... It’s the small things that showed his kindness.”

Jonathan, a Pinewood junior, passed away March 31 after months in the hospital due complications from an illness.

“On [that day], Pinewood lost Jonathan Zhao, a precious part of our school community,” Pinewood School stated in a press release distributed to the community. “Our students, families, teachers, and staff continue to grieve the loss of this young man while also seeking ways to honor his memory.”

Bill and Suzanna now want Pinewood to remember Jonathan’s kindness. Suzanna said that Jonathan was kind to everyone he came across.

“His first reaction [was] to make others happy, or to make everyone thrive in a peaceful and welcoming environment. He really [was] willing to take care of other people,” Suzanna said.

Bill and Suzanna said Jonathan never stopped being kind throughout his hospital treatment. “He persevere[d] through everything, and [it was] not [always] apparent to others,” Suzanna said. “You can see it through the way he react[ed] to his treatments, and when he came to America in 2014 [as he only learned English after coming here]… Every competition, every practice, and… [his] time living in the hospital… really demonstrate[d] his perseverance, even as a young child.”

Jonathan’s parents commemorated his legacy through a Memorial Service at Skylawn Funeral Home on April 29. That’s where friends and family had the opportunity to celebrate the former football and soccer player. Attendees participated in a variety of events, such as a variety of quizstyle Q&As. People also listened to speeches from fellow students, friends, and faculty from Pinewood School and Challenger School, Jonathan’s elementary and middle school.