December 9, 1946 – September 30, 2023

On September 30, Jacksonville lost a passionate man and a beautiful soul. John Dodero, long-time Jacksonville resident and studio potter passed away after a battle with lung cancer. John was 77.

As a community, we were fortunate to have John as a neighbor and a caretaker of our hamlet. John was a creative presence in Jacksonville since the mid-seventies as co-owner and operator of the Village Gallery, Dodero Apparel and Design Salon, and Dodero Studio Ceramics. He was also a steward of this community and worked tirelessly to keep Jacksonville (as John would say) “real.”

John was born in Chicago, Illinois in December of 1946. When he was 5-years-old his family moved to San Jose, California and in 1967 on a spring break trip to Santa Cruz he bumped into the love of his life. Cathey and John married just one year later, and two daughters soon followed. To provide for his young family, John sold maintenance supplies and eventually he and Cathey opened their own carpet cleaning business. Life was good but they felt something was missing. So, Cathey enrolled them both in an adult education pottery class to help feed their souls. Turns out, John was a really good potter and in no time was ready to say goodbye to the cleaning business and find a place to set up shop as a studio artist.

The Dodero family made their way to Jacksonville from California in 1977. Cathey had an aunt who lived in Ashland, and they fell in love with Southern Oregon during a visit. “We decided that when we had to move, this is where we would come,” said Cathey. Since 1978, John has shown and sold his work throughout the United States and Europe and created a highly successful online pottery business.

John’s impact on Jacksonville was not just through his incredible art. He was also a custodian of this town and was instrumental in helping preserve Jacksonville’s historic identity. John served for over twenty years in the Jacksonville government on numerous committees and commissions, specifically with Planning. John also served on the City Council and as a board member for Art Presence Art Center. In short, John worked fervently for many years behind the scenes to help make Jacksonville the small town that it is. “John was so proud of helping to keep Jacksonville from the plight of urban sprawl and for preserving the vibe that is our town,” said Cathey. For this we say, thank you John.

John Dodero will be remembered for his art, for his dedication and for being a great Dad and Grandpa to his daughters Calley and Tachi and grandkids Rowan, Liam, and Raphael. A memorial to celebrate John and his accomplishments will be held in the spring of 2024.