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John Douglas Cahners – husband, father, litigator, pilot, service member, and musician - passed away on May 2, 2022.
A born litigator, his sister will attest to his venery skills at trial law as he would frequent debates as a boy. Much to her chagrin, he would routinely win. Having honed his intellect attending Phillips Academy-Andover and Stanford University, he would go on to earn his Juris Doctor of Law at the University of California's Hastings College in 1967 and become a State Bar Certified Specialist in Criminal Law in 1977.
First working as a Deputy District Attorney for Santa Clara County, he would go on to start his own criminal law firm in 1980. When asked how and why he chose to become a criminal defense attorney, he would recount stories of defendants assumed of guilt without first having their day in court. Recognizing a systemic problem, he made the promise of giving every deserving client their due process under the law.
Prior to his time as a litigator, John served as an officer in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Realizing his passion for aviation, he signed on to the Navy's flight program with the hopes of being a Naval Flight Officer. Due to an unfortunate injury during training he would be grounded for the remainder of his service. He left the Navy having achieved the rank of Lieutenant like his father before him.
John continued his passion for aviation as a civilian, purchasing a surplus Navy trainer, a T-34 Mentor. You would frequently see John flying aerobatics over the coast or low along the seashore. Later in his life, he would come to teach his son about aviation, as they were a regular sight at the Half Moon Bay airport. If you happened to be wandering past the marsh lands in Palo Alto, you may have seen him scream past you on a low approach.
In 1989 John started his family by marrying his wife Lisa, who continues to work for Stanford University. It was she who would reintroduce John to skiing. Together they traveled the world seeing exotic sights as far as Santorini and the Austrian Alps.
Their son Kyle was born in 1996, and from that moment on, John could not imagine a life without his son. He made it clear that his family was the most important aspect of his life, and never failed to show his love and compassion for them. It was John's honor to see his son, like he and his father, grow to become a Naval Officer. Ensign Kyle Cahners is currently undergoing primary flight training to become a Naval Aviator and achieve the dream that John never could.
Besides his love of skiing and flying, John truly enjoyed the sun and water. He swam laps daily and was a regular in the club hot tub. During the summer, he and Kyle could be found scuba diving or snorkeling.
John was also a very accomplished guitarist, and could be heard strumming a tune outside on a sunny day. In college he would spend summers playing in small bands, and recently learned that one of his band's labels,"It's No Use," had been released on an album of 60s bands titled, "Make Mine Mondo."
John showed a love for animal rescue. A regular contributor to rescue funds, every one of his pets had been a rescue from somewhere. His first dog, Nimbus, he found abandoned as a small puppy and would go on to spend the next 17 years together.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his son Kyle, sister Laura, and extended family who will miss him dearly. A celebration of his life will be conducted at a later date.
Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on May 15, 2022.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Douglas Cahners – husband, father, litigator, pilot, service member, and musician - passed away on May 2, 2022.
A born litigator, his sister will attest to his venery skills at trial law as he would frequent debates as a boy. Much to her chagrin, he would routinely win. Having honed his intellect attending Phillips Academy-Andover and Stanford University, he would go on to earn his Juris Doctor of Law at the University of California's Hastings College in 1967 and become a State Bar Certified Specialist in Criminal Law in 1977.
First working as a Deputy District Attorney for Santa Clara County, he would go on to start his own criminal law firm in 1980. When asked how and why he chose to become a criminal defense attorney, he would recount stories of defendants assumed of guilt without first having their day in court. Recognizing a systemic problem, he made the promise of giving every deserving client their due process under the law.
Prior to his time as a litigator, John served as an officer in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Realizing his passion for aviation, he signed on to the Navy's flight program with the hopes of being a Naval Flight Officer. Due to an unfortunate injury during training he would be grounded for the remainder of his service. He left the Navy having achieved the rank of Lieutenant like his father before him.
John continued his passion for aviation as a civilian, purchasing a surplus Navy trainer, a T-34 Mentor. You would frequently see John flying aerobatics over the coast or low along the seashore. Later in his life, he would come to teach his son about aviation, as they were a regular sight at the Half Moon Bay airport. If you happened to be wandering past the marsh lands in Palo Alto, you may have seen him scream past you on a low approach.
In 1989 John started his family by marrying his wife Lisa, who continues to work for Stanford University. It was she who would reintroduce John to skiing. Together they traveled the world seeing exotic sights as far as Santorini and the Austrian Alps.
Their son Kyle was born in 1996, and from that moment on, John could not imagine a life without his son. He made it clear that his family was the most important aspect of his life, and never failed to show his love and compassion for them. It was John's honor to see his son, like he and his father, grow to become a Naval Officer. Ensign Kyle Cahners is currently undergoing primary flight training to become a Naval Aviator and achieve the dream that John never could.
Besides his love of skiing and flying, John truly enjoyed the sun and water. He swam laps daily and was a regular in the club hot tub. During the summer, he and Kyle could be found scuba diving or snorkeling.
John was also a very accomplished guitarist, and could be heard strumming a tune outside on a sunny day. In college he would spend summers playing in small bands, and recently learned that one of his band's labels,"It's No Use," had been released on an album of 60s bands titled, "Make Mine Mondo."
John showed a love for animal rescue. A regular contributor to rescue funds, every one of his pets had been a rescue from somewhere. His first dog, Nimbus, he found abandoned as a small puppy and would go on to spend the next 17 years together.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his son Kyle, sister Laura, and extended family who will miss him dearly. A celebration of his life will be conducted at a later date.
Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on May 15, 2022.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Douglas Cahners – husband, father, litigator, pilot, service member, and musician - passed away on May 2, 2022.
A born litigator, his sister will attest to his venery skills at trial law as he would frequent debates as a boy. Much to her chagrin, he would routinely win. Having honed his intellect attending Phillips Academy-Andover and Stanford University, he would go on to earn his Juris Doctor of Law at the University of California's Hastings College in 1967 and become a State Bar Certified Specialist in Criminal Law in 1977.
First working as a Deputy District Attorney for Santa Clara County, he would go on to start his own criminal law firm in 1980. When asked how and why he chose to become a criminal defense attorney, he would recount stories of defendants assumed of guilt without first having their day in court. Recognizing a systemic problem, he made the promise of giving every deserving client their due process under the law.
Prior to his time as a litigator, John served as an officer in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Realizing his passion for aviation, he signed on to the Navy's flight program with the hopes of being a Naval Flight Officer. Due to an unfortunate injury during training he would be grounded for the remainder of his service. He left the Navy having achieved the rank of Lieutenant like his father before him.
John continued his passion for aviation as a civilian, purchasing a surplus Navy trainer, a T-34 Mentor. You would frequently see John flying aerobatics over the coast or low along the seashore. Later in his life, he would come to teach his son about aviation, as they were a regular sight at the Half Moon Bay airport. If you happened to be wandering past the marsh lands in Palo Alto, you may have seen him scream past you on a low approach.
In 1989 John started his family by marrying his wife Lisa, who continues to work for Stanford University. It was she who would reintroduce John to skiing. Together they traveled the world seeing exotic sights as far as Santorini and the Austrian Alps.
Their son Kyle was born in 1996, and from that moment on, John could not imagine a life without his son. He made it clear that his family was the most important aspect of his life, and never failed to show his love and compassion for them. It was John's honor to see his son, like he and his father, grow to become a Naval Officer. Ensign Kyle Cahners is currently undergoing primary flight training to become a Naval Aviator and achieve the dream that John never could.
Besides his love of skiing and flying, John truly enjoyed the sun and water. He swam laps daily and was a regular in the club hot tub. During the summer, he and Kyle could be found scuba diving or snorkeling.
John was also a very accomplished guitarist, and could be heard strumming a tune outside on a sunny day. In college he would spend summers playing in small bands, and recently learned that one of his band's labels,"It's No Use," had been released on an album of 60s bands titled, "Make Mine Mondo."
John showed a love for animal rescue. A regular contributor to rescue funds, every one of his pets had been a rescue from somewhere. His first dog, Nimbus, he found abandoned as a small puppy and would go on to spend the next 17 years together.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his son Kyle, sister Laura, and extended family who will miss him dearly. A celebration of his life will be conducted at a later date.
Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on May 15, 2022.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Douglas Cahners – husband, father, litigator, pilot, service member, and musician - passed away on May 2, 2022.
A born litigator, his sister will attest to his venery skills at trial law as he would frequent debates as a boy. Much to her chagrin, he would routinely win. Having honed his intellect attending Phillips Academy-Andover and Stanford University, he would go on to earn his Juris Doctor of Law at the University of California's Hastings College in 1967 and become a State Bar Certified Specialist in Criminal Law in 1977.
First working as a Deputy District Attorney for Santa Clara County, he would go on to start his own criminal law firm in 1980. When asked how and why he chose to become a criminal defense attorney, he would recount stories of defendants assumed of guilt without first having their day in court. Recognizing a systemic problem, he made the promise of giving every deserving client their due process under the law.
Prior to his time as a litigator, John served as an officer in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Realizing his passion for aviation, he signed on to the Navy's flight program with the hopes of being a Naval Flight Officer. Due to an unfortunate injury during training he would be grounded for the remainder of his service. He left the Navy having achieved the rank of Lieutenant like his father before him.
John continued his passion for aviation as a civilian, purchasing a surplus Navy trainer, a T-34 Mentor. You would frequently see John flying aerobatics over the coast or low along the seashore. Later in his life, he would come to teach his son about aviation, as they were a regular sight at the Half Moon Bay airport. If you happened to be wandering past the marsh lands in Palo Alto, you may have seen him scream past you on a low approach.
In 1989 John started his family by marrying his wife Lisa, who continues to work for Stanford University. It was she who would reintroduce John to skiing. Together they traveled the world seeing exotic sights as far as Santorini and the Austrian Alps.
Their son Kyle was born in 1996, and from that moment on, John could not imagine a life without his son. He made it clear that his family was the most important aspect of his life, and never failed to show his love and compassion for them. It was John's honor to see his son, like he and his father, grow to become a Naval Officer. Ensign Kyle Cahners is currently undergoing primary flight training to become a Naval Aviator and achieve the dream that John never could.
Besides his love of skiing and flying, John truly enjoyed the sun and water. He swam laps daily and was a regular in the club hot tub. During the summer, he and Kyle could be found scuba diving or snorkeling.
John was also a very accomplished guitarist, and could be heard strumming a tune outside on a sunny day. In college he would spend summers playing in small bands, and recently learned that one of his band's labels,"It's No Use," had been released on an album of 60s bands titled, "Make Mine Mondo."
John showed a love for animal rescue. A regular contributor to rescue funds, every one of his pets had been a rescue from somewhere. His first dog, Nimbus, he found abandoned as a small puppy and would go on to spend the next 17 years together.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his son Kyle, sister Laura, and extended family who will miss him dearly. A celebration of his life will be conducted at a later date.
Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on May 15, 2022.
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