Jonathan Rhodes Stevenson, descendant of Roger Williams, artist, teacher, and lover of knowledge, left this side of paradise on Tuesday, May 12, 12:40pm, peacefully and surrounded by loved ones, after an 80 year bout with the world. Jon was a jack of all trades, master of all, and exceeded in everything he set his mind to. He was an OR tech for the airforce, stationed in Japan during Vietnam, a professor of ceramics at CCRI, ran the business Stevenson Pottery, which put his beautifully crafted stoneware in homes throughout the globe, he was a sailor, painter, table saw operator, handyman, storyteller, lover of science fiction, collector of curios and gadgets, nine fingered blues guitarist, elephant handler, and builder of canoes. Jon was a stalwart man of faith and possessed a marvelous sense of humor and a humility for the vastness of the universe. For decades, Jon was a pillar of Pawtuxet Baptist Church, the church of his ancestors, performing every role imaginable, as a Sunday school teacher, sexton, deacon, and preacher. He met his first wife, Paula Dydowicz, in art school at URI and had three extraordinary children with her, of whom he was deeply proud. Jon had a remarkable ministry with young people and adopted many as his own children. The homes he made offered sanctuary to those seeking shelter, but the real shelter in his own life came when he met his true love, Diana Stevenson, at church. Her devoted care and affection made his last years his happiest. Jon’s immense knowledge of everything and eagerness to share that knowledge left everyone he encountered wiser for knowing him. His legacy will continue with honorary children Tyler Evans, Laura and Aquil Medeira, daughters and their respective spouses, Tara Hansen and Kris Hansen, Tovah Stevenson Martin and William Martin jr., his son, Benjamin Stevenson, and four step children, Jeremy Jones, Jennifer Abdulla-Neves, Kendra Port, and Cody Lolio, grandchildren Amity and August Rhodes Hansen, Tavish Oak Martin, Eden, Zion, and Azarel Medeira, Jeremie Jr Jones, Brandon Jones, Fallon Neves, Christopher Neves, Emma Port, and Eli Port.

Burial with Military Honors will be held Monday, May 18, 2026, at 11:30am at RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 301 South County Trail, Exeter, with a celebration of life to follow at the Pumphouse, from 2pm to 5pm, 1464 Kingstown Rd, Wakefield. A Memorial Service will be held at Pawtuxet Baptist Church, 2157 Broad Street, Cranston, at a time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please share a story about something you learned from Jon or from his kin, as his reach in education will ripple out exponentially, into the ages.

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything: for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ”  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)