Jonathon Hren, 66

Jonathon Hren, whose friends called him Jono when he was growing up in East Hampton, a nickname that came to be because he was one of three Johns who were best childhood friends, and that lasted, died of lung cancer on March 4 at the Kanas Hospice Center on Quiogue at the age of 66.  

Mr. Hren graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in biological science in 1975 and returned home to help run his family’s nursery business in Amagansett for several years. A guitarist, he released an album of original songs titled “Jono — Right from the Start” in 2001.

He was born to Joseph A. Hren Sr. and the former Elizabeth Fee at Southampton Hospital on Feb. 9, 1953, and graduated from East Hampton High School in 1971. At college in Florida, he became an active member of the Beta Nu chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha and remained involved with the fraternity over the years, editing some of its history books and proudly displaying related paraphernalia. 

Family members said Mr. Hren was fascinated by trains and enjoyed long trips by rail. He had a collection of model trains, which he would set up at home and as an elaborate display at the family nursery at Christmastime. He also loved farming, cooking, and “anything air and space related, from building model planes and rockets to star-gazing with his large collection of telescopes,” which he donated to the East Hampton School District.

Mr. Hren had three sisters who died before him: Elizabeth Levy, Joanne (Babe) Fecteau, and Judith Sanchez, as well as a brother, Joseph Hren II. He is survived by his sister Marion Cantwell of Taos, N.M., and by two brothers, James Hren of Amagansett and Laurence Hren of Carlsbad, Calif. 

The family is planning a celebration of Mr. Hren’s life in the summer. He had donated his body to the Department of Anatomical Sciences at Stony Brook University and no services were held. 

Memorial contributions have been suggested for the Kanas Center for Hospice Care at 1 Meeting House Road, Quiogue 11978. The website address is eeh.org/hospice-care/inpatient.