Deceased May 3, 2010
View alumni profile (log in required)
In Memory
Jonathan Gatlin '78 passed away on May 2, 2010, and is survived by his widow, Susan Johnsen. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Jon played football while at Amherst. He went on to work in the mortgage industry and in social services, and his career endeavors took him to Denver for many years. In December 2006, he met Susan, who became the love of his life; within a few short months he moved to Stockton, California, where they were married in 2007.
I met Jon and Susan after the 2008 Amherst-Williams telecast at a sports bar in San Francisco—an unlikely venue for me but a favored one for Jon. I was immediately drawn to Jon's larger-than-life spirit, his irreverent sense of humor and infectious joie-de-vivre, his openness and humility, and his deep love for his soul-mate, Susan. Three hours later, we had traded many laughs and stories—it was as though we were long-lost brothers and sisters, and our friendship felt immediate and profound. Though we saw each other only a few times, most recently a few weeks ago, he will continue to live on in my heart and in the hearts of everyone whose lives he touched.
Kate Akos '80