Veteran journalist and former Portland Tribune reporter and editor Jason Vondersmith passed away of an apparent heart attack on Sunday, Oct. 4, just three days short of his 61st birthday.
His partner of many years, Celeste Yazdani, said the family is in shock because there were no obvious warning signs in advance. She describes him as “a great guy” who became a stepfather to her three young children when they first met, sharing many happy and important moments together with all of them.
Vondersmith spent decades in Oregon journalism at a host of sites, including, most recently as editor of Oregon Arts Watch, which first reported his death. His longest stint in journalism was working for the Portland Tribune from 2001 to 2025, first in sports and then in features. He served as both a reporter and editor, including 19 years covering all sports in Portland and Oregon football. His Metro Life coverage included human interest topics, arts, and entertainment for print and online…