Oregon climber died of heart attack

Wed., June 29, 2005

Associated Press

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — A heart attack killed the climber whose body was recovered on Mount McLoughlin last week, an autopsy found.

The autopsy, performed by Medford pathologist Dr. James Olson, revealed that John Zazzara, 54, of Beaverton, suffered head trauma, but those injuries were not fatal, Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger said Tuesday.

Zazzara climbed the mountain June 12. Searchers started looking for him a few days later when his employers at Intel became concerned that he wasn’t showing for work.

His body was finally spotted Friday.

The death was the first on the mountain since October 2002, when a small plane crashed near the summit, killing two people.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Oregon climber died of heart attack

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Deadly tapeworm species found in Pullman red fox

Human remains found near Waha identified as Allan Sloan, missing since December 2021

Four Stevens County deputies on leave after shooting, killing armed man suspected of firing gun at children