John Paul Vineyard, right, with Craig Chaquico, former Jefferson Starship and Starship guitar player, at the Green Springs Inn in Ashland during a stop in their motorcycle ride on Aug. 15, 2018. Chaquico remembered Vineyard as a creative hairstylist who was also an experienced motorcyclist. 

A Medford man who died in a motorcycle crash involving an alleged intoxicated driver last spring is being remembered as a creative hairstylist who loved to spend Saturdays riding on quiet, open roads.

John Paul Vineyard, 71, was in Phoenix on his way home from one of those rides on May 13 when prosecutors allege he was struck by Norman Paul Thompson, 45, near the Interstate 5 Phoenix interchange while Thompson was allegedly driving a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance. Life-saving measures were performed on Vineyard, but he was later pronounced dead.

It would not be until Sept. 20 that a Jackson County Grand Jury indicted Thompson, of Ashland, on charges of second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and two counts of reckless endangering. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest two days later, and Thompson was booked into the Jackson County Jail on $200,000 bail. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Thompson appeared virtually Wednesday in Jackson County Circuit Court asking to have his bail reduced. Judge Sara Collins lowered it to $100,000 with conditions, including no driving, no intoxicants without proof of prescription and submitting to polygraph tests — but not before statements from Vineyard’s family were read in court.

“My life will never be the same. I miss him so much,” wrote Vineyard’s wife, Eva, in a statement read by Deputy District Attorney Samantha Olson. “I also miss the way he loved and cherished me everyday. I will no longer feel his tender hugs and kisses.”

Thompson, who cried throughout much of the proceedings, said “I’m sorry” and “my heart is broken into pieces” for the family when he was asked by Collins if he wished to make a statement.

Thompson’s next court appearance is a pre-trial conference scheduled for Nov. 6.

‘Motorcyclist down’

At 11:21 a.m. May 13, the Phoenix Police Department was dispatched to Bear Creek Bridge on North Phoenix Road for “a report of a motorcyclist down,” according to a news release from the agency.

Phoenix police and personnel from Jackson County Fire District 5 tried life-saving measures but could not revive Vineyard.

An initial investigation discovered that Vineyard, driving a 2006 Triumph motorcycle, was “either struck by or had struck another vehicle (a 2010 Toyota Camry)” traveling in the same direction on North Phoenix Road. The impact caused Vineyard’s motorcycle to jump a median before he crashed into the bridge railing, the release said.

Numerous law enforcement officials and Matthew Anderson, the prosecutor over Thompson’s criminal case, declined to elaborate on the details of the incident for this story. 

Vineyard’s daughter, Natasha Stagmer, of Baltimore, said in an interview that her father was wearing a helmet and other protective gear at the time of his death.

“My dad, obviously, has had beyond a lifetime of motorcycle experience,” Stagmer said. “My dad did not mess around with safety.”

‘An incredible stylist’

Vineyard was born Sept. 3, 1950, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in nearby Alexandria, Virginia.

Stagmer said Vineyard, who grew up around a stern father, was the most loving and compassionate dad.

“My dad only yelled at me once in my entire life,” Stagmer said. 

The daughter who called herself a “daddy’s girl” said she felt like she grew up in a salon, where her father spent most of his working life after earlier service in the Army and working as a landscaper.

“My whole life, my dad has been a hairstylist,” Stagmer said. “Which I always thought was really cool, considering he was a 6-foot-4, big biker dude. He was definitely not your stereotypical-looking stylist.”

Joy Trevey Lowell, of Talent, worked at the barber chair next to Vineyard — known by close friends as “J.P.” — for over 20 years at Escape Tanning and Salon, located at 1003 E. Jackson Street in Medford.

“He was an incredible stylist,” Trevey Lowell said. “In fact, he had this saying that he advertised: ‘If your hair isn’t becoming to you, you should be coming to me.’”

Craig Chaquico, former guitar player for Jefferson Starship and Starship who lives in Ashland, also quoted Vineyard’s motto. Chaquico first met Vineyard in 2001, when the former rock star-turned-smooth jazz guitarist convert first moved to Southern Oregon and was looking for a stylist to help shape his hair for life in the music business.

“Those stretches in between visits, I would imagine my hair might not have been that becoming,” Chaquico said. “When I needed something well-coiffed for an appearance, he was always … nice enough to squeeze me in.”

Stagmer said cutting hair “was art” for Vineyard. Chaquico agreed. 

“He took pride in making people look good and feel good by using his artistic talent,” Chaquico said. “He’s an artist.”

‘His longest love’

When Vineyard was not cutting hair, he loved to ride his motorcycle, people close to him said. 

“His longest love was the motorcycle,” Stagmer said. 

Trevey Lowell said Vineyard would often entertain clients with stories of his motorcycle rides.

“He liked to go blasting around early in the morning, when there was no one around, and just really enjoyed the speed, agility and ability of the bike,” Trevey Lowell said. “He enjoyed the whole freedom of it.”

She said Vineyard prided himself on being a responsible rider.

“He’s so professional about his bike, he would have never taken his hands off. He would never talk on his phone when he was riding,” Trevey Lowell said. “That would just take away from motorcycle riding. In that regard, he was more of a purist. If he had to talk to somebody, I think he would just pull over.”

Chaquico, who rode with Vineyard many times, spoke to the late hairstylist’s excellent riding skills, especially when it came to riding a road the day after a windstorm.

“Going into a turn, there might be little pebbles — they call it ‘marbles’ —  in the road that even an expert rider could lose it,” Chaquico said. “I know for a fact he was really aware of all of that stuff, and if I was riding behind him and could see him, he would always point to those little surprises in the road.”

Justice for ‘J.P.’

Trevey Lowell had mixed reactions about Thompson’s criminal case.

“It’s not for me to judge this person. I wasn’t there, I didn’t see it,” Trevey Lowell said. “I just don’t want to talk about it. I miss my friend. Nothing that can happen can bring J.P. back.”

The hairstylist said she doesn’t want to know the details of the incident that led to the death of her friend or attend court dates — unless Eva Vineyard asks her.

“I don’t want to go for my own sake because I just want whatever is supposed to happen to happen,” Trevey Lowell said.