John H Cappis

John Cappis
April 24, 1942 - April 29, 2026
Dallas, Texas - On Wednesday evening, April 29,2026, John Cappis, age 84, quietly passed away of natural causes following an 18 year battle to still have a quality life after suffering a traumatic car accident and subsequent strokes.

John was born in Telluride, Colorado, at the old hospital (now Historic Museum), and had many fond memories of a childhood in a small town including outside adventures from climbing different peaks, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, snow mobiling, hunting with his dad and, of course, Jeeping. He inherited his parents’ mountain living strength, and was very tough emotionally and physically. He was not one to complain, and pushed through pain, seeing it as just another challenge to overcome.In addition, he was very interested in how things worked, like electronics, often building his own receivers and other devices. He was an avid reader from a young age, particular favorites being ‘Zane Grey’ western novels & Tarzan. He participated in many school activities, including: student council (President in his last year), member of the “7 Club,” for various athletic teams, & was even voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” When he was a junior in high school, the school superintendent encouraged him to go on to college a year early as he had already taken most of what was offered in Telluride. He assisted him in gaining entrance to Mount Union College in Canton, Ohio. After 3 years, he had finished a BS in chemistry and took a job in Loveland, Colorado with the Great Western Sugar Company. A year later, he accepted a job as staff member of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was here that he married Lona Perkins, an elementary school teacher. They had two sons, Jay & Andrew. They lived in Los Alamos since 1963 except for three years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at Avco Electronics division, three years in Vienna Austria at the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency, and two years in Washington, DC. John retired in late 2002, but still continued consulting work part time when he & Lona moved to Ridgway, Colorado to be closer to John’s parents.

John began running in 1968, and first ran competitively in 1973 with the 14 mile Mt Evans run. His long avocation seems to have been enormous help physically, as John had major surgery to remove one kidney in 1974. He was told he would require ten days in hospital and six weeks at home, but as with so many challenges, John proved them wrong by returning to work in three weeks, and back to running in six weeks. John would go on to complete multiple Pikes Peak marathons, break a speed walking distance in 1977, compete in the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon, Western States Endurance 100 mile run, Imogene Pass Mountain Marathon, the Grand Canyon XX (double crossing), the Telluride Get High Race, the Leadville 100 and others, often running twenty five races of varying lengths a year during his “serious” running career. John is also well remembered as one of the original course creators and first course director for (in)famamous Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run ultramarathon established in 1992. The run spans approximately 102.5 miles in length, plus 33,992 feet of climb and 33,992 feet of descent at an average elevation of over 11,000 feet as it winds its way around the peaks and valleys of the San Juan Range John grew up in. The course is a loop run on dirt trails, 4WD roads, and cross country connecting the historic mining towns of Telluride, Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. John was inducted into the first Hardrock Hall of Fame in 2025 for his continued effort and support of the Hardrock 100.***
***For a wonderful tribute to John’s impact and legacy to the running community, please visit the online article by I-Run-Far (Irunfar.com) and contributors, at the following link to I-Run-Far’s page:
https://www.irunfar.com/john-cappis-memorial

Jonn loved classical arts and artists, New Mexico arts and artists, and learning about other cultures. Much of which he and his wife Lona, embraced during time in New Mexico along with travels to Austria, Czechoslovakia(now Czech Republic), Hungary, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, France, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, Egypt, and Mexico. John also travelled individually to Russia, New Zealand, Japan and even made several month stay at McMurdo Bay Research Station, Antartica. Along with doing crossword puzzles together and reading mystery book series, and biographies of all kinds.

Next to running, (or in tandem with), John also enjoyed photography. This included many types and subjects, ranging from nature; mountains, meadows carpeted in wildflowers; animals from small Coonies all the way up to bear, deer, elk, and mountain sheep; panorama scenes, sunsets; and, of course, family & friends. Not to mention the hundreds of photos of the Hardrock 100 course and the runners. He even had one of the photos he took of a Hardrock runner on the trail with a mountain vista published as the cover for an issue of Ultra Running magazine.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Lona Cappis; his father, George; and his mother Gay.

John is survived by his son Jay and daughter in law Carey of Houston,Texas; grandson Christian and wife Maris, of Dallas, Texas; grandson Oliver and wife Ella, of San Antonio, Texas; granddaughter Lynnlee and grandson JD, of Houston, Texas; son Andrew & husband Russ Eason, of Dallas, Texas; cousin Patty Kardokus and husband Larry, of Heron, Montana; cousin Richard Williams and wife Lori, of Montrose, Colorado.

A small private ceremony will be held in Dallas, Texas at the time of John’s internment.