2/11/1995 – 1/1/2026
Portland, Oregon
John “Connor” Thellman, MD, age 30, died peacefully in the presence of his family on January 1, 2026 at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Hospital in Portland, OR after complications from a sudden and devastating illness.
Connor was born on February 11, 1995 in Lawrence, KS to Scott and Nancy Thellman, the youngest of their three children. He was educated in Lawrence public schools, graduating from Free State High School in 2013. Some of Connor’s happiest years were spent in Madison, WI where he received undergraduate degrees in Economics and Biology from the University of Wisconsin. After college, Connor moved back to Kansas to attend the University of Kansas School of Medicine where he graduated in the spring of 2022.
Connor moved to Portland for a residency in the Pathology Department of OHSU in the summer of 2022 and was just months away from finishing that excellent four-year program. He was looking forward to starting a fellowship in dermatopathology at OHSU later this year. Connor had the honor of serving as a co-chief resident in pathology this last year of his residency, an extra responsibility he was so proud to take on. Likewise, we are so proud of Connor. This is an excerpt of his department’s recent post sharing news of Connor’s death to the wider OHSU campus:
“Remembering Connor Thellman, M.D.”
As a senior resident, his work, often behind the scenes, played an essential role in patient care by helping diagnoses of disease, inform treatment decisions and provide clarity for patients and families during uncertain moments. He was known for his dedication, curiosity and the quiet, steady ways he supported his colleagues and trainees.
As a co-chief resident, Connor demonstrated thoughtful leadership, professionalism, and a deep sense of responsibility to his peers and the department. He was a trusted advocate for residents, a steady presence during busy and challenging times, and someone who led by example—with humility, kindness, and integrity. His leadership strengthened the residency community and reflected his genuine care for both people and patient care.
In addition to his clinical and leadership responsibilities, Connor was an accomplished scholar. He authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications focused on challenging diagnostic cases and the careful application of molecular testing, contributing to the medical literature in surgical pathology, molecular diagnostics and pediatric pathology. His work reflected a deep commitment to diagnostic rigor, collaboration, and lifelong learning. He was especially proud of his research projects and enjoyed sharing his excitement for discovery with mentors, colleagues, and family.”
Connor was a sweet child with an old soul and a winsome smile who grew to be a brilliant young man—still with a winsome smile. Though he had much to be proud of, Connor was a humble fellow, blessed with a meticulous mind, a kind heart, and an adventurous spirit. He sought out and loved simple pleasures like spending a day at the ocean, going camping with dear college friends, listening to jazz on the radio or making his own music on piano or drum. When back in Kansas, Connor found joy hiking around the family farm, always stopping first at the big red barn–his beautiful handiwork and spirit evident at every turn. Connor had a bright future ahead and we are so sad his future is cut short. But he made such good use of the time he was given and for that, and for all those who shared in his good life, we are grateful.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to the nurses, doctors and ancillary staff of the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Infectious Disease, Cardiology, Neurology, and Palliative Care teams who provided Connor with such excellent and compassionate care in the last month of his life. Their dedicated caring for “one of their own” was deeply meaningful to Connor and our family, and something we will not forget. And words can never express the depth of our appreciation for Connor’s pathology department—his second family—that helped him learn to live a beautiful, purposeful life at work and at play, and filled him with the positivity and hope he needed to get through his most difficult days.
Connor is survived by his parents, Scott and Nancy Thellman of Lawrence, KS; his brother Scotty Thellman and his partner Chelsi Hayden of Lawrence, KS; his sister Katy Thellman and her husband Jan Van Zeghbroeck of Vancouver, WA; and his grandmother Janet Thellman of Overland Park, KS. Connor additionally has aunts, uncles, and cousins around the country who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his grandparents John and Shirley Pozdro, of Lawrence, KS and his grandfather Jack Thellman, of Overland Park, KS.
A formal memorial service will be held on the OHSU campus in Portland, OR on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Closer to home, a celebration of Connor’s life will be planned at Juniper Hill Farm, his beloved family farm in Lawrence, KS, to be planned at a later date.
For those who wish to honor Connor’s memory, donations may be made to Connor’s favorite public radio station in Portland: KMHD, “Jazz Without Boundaries” (kmhd.org) serving up music Connor enjoyed each and every day.
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