August 26, 1963 – May 10, 2025
John, loving husband, father, best friend, confidant, intellectual, French enthusiast, devoted Arsenal follower, ultimate conversationalist, talented writer, and bicyclist extraordinaire was lost to his family and friends too soon and will be greatly missed.
Aside from practicing French, and watching Arsenal matches, his main passion was riding his bicycle. He was lucky enough to have enjoyed traveling by bicycle in recent years, exploring the UK and Europe, and most recently realized his dream of riding parts of the Tour de France race route. Vashon Island was a happy home for him, a beautiful place to live and be peaceful.
Born in Rome, Italy, John’s childhood was spent in the United Kingdom, followed by his teen years in Mammoth, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and New York city. He attended Georgetown University in Washington DC, developing long-term friendships, before settling into Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA where he earned his Bachelor’s degree, and some time at Seattle University, gathering even more devoted friends.
John was a journalist at heart, driven by curiosity and the human condition, which also informed his latest work as a technical content project manager. He gathered friends wherever he studied and worked, so his professional life, although important, ultimately was only part of what connected him to a wide range of people and relationships.
Predeceased by his parents, Robert Blair Kaiser and Susan Ann Broyden (née Mulcahey), John is survived by his wife, Aili Kaiser, of Vashon, WA, and his two daughters Lucy Kaiser Merrill and Ella Kaiser Merrill of Seattle, WA. He is also survived by his brother Bill Kaiser, niece Amelia Kaiser and nephew Dylan Kaiser, of Carlsbad, CA; sisters Polly Kaiser, Sarah Broyden, step-father Maurice Broyden, nieces Susannah Concha-Broyden, Phoebe Kaiser-Wilks, all of the United Kingdom, and nephew Callum Kaiser-Wilks, of the Basque Country.
A private memorial gathering for family and friends will be held July 12, 2025, on Vashon Island.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Civil Liberties Union.
