John "Jack" Gately
July 31, 1943-February 18, 2025

John "Jack" Gately Jr. of Laguna Niguel CA, passed away on February 18, 2025. He was 81. Jack was born in Rhode Island to John and Ruth Gately and grew up in Oakland Beach. He attended Warwick High School, where he starred on the hockey team. After high school he attended Providence College where he played on the Friars' historic 1964 team that won the ECAC championship and advanced to the Frozen Four.

As a teenager he once caddied for Ruth Kennedy, who accused him of stealing her ball. He denied it until the day he died. He also chauffeured for Aretha Franklin at the Newport Folk festival. There were no incidents.

In 1968 he married the love of his life, Patricia Nolan. They were married for 56 years and were the model of a loving marriage. In 1971 they welcomed their first son, Ryan, before moving to Orange County in 1972. Their second son, Brendan, was born the following year.

Jack did everything for his kids. From travelling around the country for Ryan's tennis tournaments, to driving 16 hours round trip for one of Brendan's Lacrosse games, he was always there to support them with words of kindness and encouragement.

Jack worked in the golf industry for his entire career where he saw considerable success. That said, he was better at selling golf equipment than using it. But ,he was always a fun playing partner and every golfer knows that is all that matters.

Jack was always quick with a joke—some might argue, too quick. But he just wanted to make people smile. He was an extremely grateful man and he wanted to share his gratitude with others. He once insisted on thanking a cook in person after having the "best pork chop of his life" at a pub in Berkeley. It was a very "Jack Gately thing" to do. The cook couldn't have been happier to hear it. He was good at making people feel good.

He was a loving grandfather of three, Curren, Roxby and Bentley, He was preceded in death by his beloved sister, Jane and is survived by all the people mentioned above and many more.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to celebrate Jack by doing a very "Jack Gately thing" for someone else today.