Jonathan Geller's Medical Fund

Jon was diagnosed with AML unexpectedly on November 4, 2023, and has been receiving inpatient treatment at Sharp Memorial Hospital in his new hometown of San Diego ever since. The care is excellent but extremely expensive. Jon got COVID on his birthday, August 24, and his condition deteriorated over the following several months. He thought he had tonsillitis, at worst, and imagine his surprise when the cancer diagnosis was given to him. Due to his dedication to CrossFit Yoga and meditation, Jon came into this strong and hopes to come out of this even stronger. He needs all of our help to beat this and we know that you are here to support him.

Jon’s cancer is known as Acute Myeloid Leukemia or AML. It begins in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of certain bones, where new blood cells are made), but quickly moves into the blood. AML occurs when immature myeloid cells inside the bone marrow begin growing out of control. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles. The overall 5-year relative survival rate for AML is 29.8%. However, the outlook for each person will depend on their age, health, the specific genetic mutations present in the leukemia cells, and other factors.

A little background about Jon is that he grew up in Kingston, Pennsylvania, and went to UHI. He grew up in Temple Israel, and just hearing Cantor Abraham’s voice these past few years on the live streams brings a tear to his eye. He graduated from Valley West as all his brothers and sisters did. Jon was part of the graduating class of 1997-98 and on the Football team for all four years of high school career, never having played before attending. Jon was on the field goal team when “Stu Put it Through” when we beat Berwick in overtime for the first time. He also loved being in all of the choruses and musicals with Chris Wilski and Elaine Bauer. Without those folks, Jon would not have chosen his eventual career path. Jon wouldn't be the person he is without Band Director Andy Kolojejchick believing in him when he was 17. He fondly remembers music theory classes where he described football plays on the chalkboard.

Jon graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh in 2004 and has worked in the field of Production Management for Performing Arts Venues for the last 19 years. His love for technical theater took off at Wilkes University for IATSE Local 82 in 1999, under the leadership of his hero Jamie Kurtz. Early in his career Jon was lucky to work with the City Theater and counts Tony Ferrieri as one of the greatest influences on his career and work ethic. Jon was also lucky to work with his peers at Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, Quantum Theatre, and others. When in Pittsburgh, he loves a Primanti Brothers sandwich!

Jon moved to Aspen, Colorado in late 2005 to ski for a season but ended up staying for 18 years. The first thing he did was to call his brother Jeff and ask him to move to Colorado too! It took three years, and Jeff arrived. Jon was lucky to have his brother living nearby and they enjoyed skiing and mountain life together. What kept Jon there was a position as Stage Manager for the Wheeler Opera House, as well as working for Jazz Aspen and Loren Wilder on her wonderful designs for the Aspen Ideas Festival. His favorite part of his career there was working with JP Maltay Tom Mossbrucker and the team at Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. His career in Aspen culminated in managing the Aspen District Theatre for several years overseeing massive improvements to the facility and hosting the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, as well as the school district events and performances. Highlights for the school district were working with Marnie White and Erica Nottingham’s music programs, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade plays with Tammy Barr, and the 8th-grade Continuation. Additionally, he assembled the technical and design team for the high school production of Pippin and brought in his longtime friend Scott Nelson, a wonderful lighting designer. The production received several commendations at the National High School Theatre Awards for Best Lighting and Set Design.

In 2013 Jon DIscovered his love for Crossfit and Yoga. At the age of 18 Jon weighed 320 lbs football pizza and wings was life. Jon struggled with his weight through his 20’s bouncing up and down the scale like a superball. From 260 to 240 to 185 to 230 back and forth. When his father became ill with heart disease in 2013 subsequently passing away, Jon wanted to refocus his priorities making sure he had a long life ahead of him. He had heard about Crossfit after recovering from ACL surgery in 2013 and began working out at Aspen Crossfit. To say the least, he was immediately hooked under the leadership of the former owner Eric Larson, and current co-owner Jessica Moore. Jon has been a member of the CrossFit community since. He credits this practice with helping him gain strength to overcome this difficult situation if he hadn't taken that step who knows where he would be today? Since moving to San Diego in 2021, he joined CrossFit Fortius and has felt welcomed by the community and never felt the need to even look at any of the other local gyms although he knows they are all great in their own way. Jon really enjoys the coaching and programming at Crossfit Fortius. He feels stronger than ever with the support and training he gets there. Jon also started his Yoga practice in 2014 at King Yoga in Aspen Colorado. He had been a long-time friend of studio owner and instructor Aron King, sharing the same passion for music, and found that both practicing Yoga and CrossFit were mutually beneficial to each other. Aaron’s teaching combined with his excellent taste in music designing curated flows, had him hooked immediately. Jon credits his time at King Yoga, with moving the needle of his life in a positive direction both physically and mentally. Jon has been a member of the Yoga community since practicing at studios across the country and world wherever his travels have taken him. Since moving to San Diego in 2021, Jon joined South Park Yoga and has felt welcomed and loved by the community there. Jon enjoys all the classes there particularly, those led by Jano Galindo, ( who mixes the soundtracks to his flows, much like Aaron, but in different styles and bets they would be friends instantly if they met) and Saira Estrada’s Yin and Vinyasa classes so much and looks forward to them every week.

Jon moved to Arizona briefly for 7 months in 2021 as the pandemic was winding down. In September of 2021, Jon took a vacation to San Diego to snorkel in La Jolla and fell in love with the area. He immediately began applying for jobs before he left the vacation. He crossed paths with Samson Liua Brendan Farley and the team at San Diego Theatres and was hired to fill the role of Production Supervisor. He has worked with some of the best and brightest technicians and performers in the industry. Jon loves his San Diego work family and the opportunity to serve an ethnically diverse population in the city he calls home. Jon has enjoyed his time at the beach, snorkeling, and free diving as much as possible. The warm San Diego weather has been a great trade-off for all the time spent on skis in Colorado.

Jon has an extended network of friends and family but is all alone in his new hometown, he is lucky to have his siblings and loved ones visiting in shifts over the next few weeks. David and Alisa (who taught him to ski and were the most positive example in his life), his brother Jeffrey who is his greatest friend and ski buddy, Carley his sister-in-law and the greatest thing to happen to Jeffrey, and Tracy his sister-in-law and who has really funny stories about when he was in the bath at 9 years old, are coming out in shifts over the next few weeks to be with him. He hopes to see his brother David back and sister-in-law Shanen, and nephews Jonah and Brady hope to come out to visit again after the new year. Since Jon’s father Jack passed away in 2016, Jon has become a guardian of his mother, along with his siblings. Judy currently resides in an assisted living community and requires full-time care. Judy suffers from dementia and will soon be transferred to the memory care area. While most of the financial burden of Judy’s care is currently covered by his father’s estate, additional expenses increase the financial burden that Jon and his family must support.

With music always in his ears, Jon hopes to put this long strange trip behind him and be dancing above the waves and beneath a sea of stars with you all soon. And we know he will with all of our help.