The Cal Bears had just lost their basketball game, but fortunately the GS Warriors were winning theirs. As he sipped a glass of a favorite zinfandel, Jonathan Goodier, Jr passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, February 11. It was a long life, well lived!

Jon was born August 2,1926 at Mills Hospital in San Mateo, CA to Jonathan and Margaret (Tubman) Goodier. Upon his mother's death, when he was only four, he lived with his grandfather, Lt. Col. Lewis Goodier, Provost Martial at the Presidio, San Francisco. With his grandfather’s death a short five years later, the family moved into their own home in San Mateo where Jon cemented relationships with neighborhood boys and classmates that he maintained contact with throughout their lives.

He graduated from San Mateo High School in 1944, and while attending San Mateo Junior College, was drafted into the United States Army, serving in a Philippine foxhole during World War II. After returning from the War, Jon graduated from San Mateo Junior College in 1948 and then earned his B. S. in Civil Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, 1950. At 6’7” and with huge hands, he played basketball for both schools.

Jon's entire successful career was with the Guy F. Atkinson Construction Company of South San Francisco. He served as Project Director or Project Manager of numerous dams, power plants, bridges, and highway projects from California to New York and from Canada to Venezuela and as a Director on the Atkinson Company Board of Directors. He took great pride in his construction accomplishments, particularly the building of Guri Dam in Venezuela, which, at the time, was the largest earth-filled dam in the world – stretching over one mile across. He earned one of the highest honors in the world of Engineering when he was awarded the Golden Beaver Award in l984.

Jon met his wife, Patricia, at a Church group for young un-marrieds in 1950. They were married on April Fool’s Day in 1951 and were blessed with three children, Susan, David, and Stephanie. They moved over 30 times during their marriage, from one construction project to another. She preceded him in death in 1992. Upon retirement, Jon returned to San Mateo County where he lived out the remainder of his 96 ½ years.

In his later years, Jon led a rich life, pursuing passions such as wine, bread baking and pasta making, beekeeping, service to the Burlingame United Methodist Church and nurturing and showing prize winning roses.

In 1993 Jon married Lucille Bunstock from Oroville. She survives him along with his three children from his first marriage. He also leaves behind 8 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 5 nieces and nephews, and several great-nieces and nephews.

Jon was loved by so many. He was a principled man who didn’t like a lot of foolishness, but his integrity, incredible work ethic, strong moral principles, and generous spirit left an impression wherever he went. He never met a stranger that didn't quickly become a friend; he always went out of his way to help anyone in need. His true wealth was his generous heart.

Jon is now at peace, joining his first wife, his siblings, and generations of family before him. He requested no services.

If you wish to make a donation in honor of Jon, please consider donating to the San Mateo County Rose Society or the Beekeepers’ Guild of San Mateo County.

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