Donald Christian Gates, 72, of Atlantic Highlands, passed away Jan. 21, 2022, due to complications from COVID-19.
Donald, known to friends and family as “Don,” was born in Brooklyn to his adoring parents, Capt. Donald W. Gates and Margit Gates, both deceased. As a young man, Don was very active in the Boy Scouts of America, including the Order of the Arrow and a trip to Philmont, Colorado. He graduated Springfield High School in Springfield, Pennsylvania, and Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. In 1979, he married his wife of 42 years, Nancy (Cassone) Gates, and they made their home in Atlantic Highlands. He enjoyed a long career as a health and safety engineer for the state Department of Environmental Protection in Trenton and subsequently as a consultant for the DEP, before the effects of a kidney disease required him to stop the long commute to Trenton. Prior to the DEP, Don enjoyed the most rewarding job of his career as Technical Photographer, Mason Hanger, EPA at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Leonardo.
Don was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church and proud parishioner for the last 42 years of the United Methodist Church in Navesink and Atlantic Highlands. He was committed to his Bible study on Tuesday evenings; he was a remarkably loving and easy man to talk to. Don truly enjoyed the many friends, neighbors and associates he was blessed to meet throughout his walks in life.
Don was extremely fond of his town of Atlantic Highlands. The close proximity to the marina allowed him to enjoy his boat and fishing trips with his sister and brother-in-law and occasionally with his grandson Christian. He served on the Emergency Management and Environmental committees of Atlantic Highlands.
He is survived by his wife Nancy; his only sibling and best friend, sister Joanne Kristine Bruno and brother-in-law Thomas F. Bruno; stepdaughter Michelle Smith (Ed Smith); grandson Christian Smith (raised by Don and Nancy); granddaughters Gwyneth and Sasha Smith; and nieces and nephews, Thomas F. Bruno, (Inez, children Nina and Nicolas), Peter Bruno (partner Melody Vargas), Matthew Simmons, Alex Simmons, Sarah Schaefer; and sisters-in-law, Cynthia Schaeffer (Ernest) and Leah Simmons; with many beloved family members in Norway and Scotland, including cousin Eileen Lea (Neil). His dreams after his transplant were to visit with all of them again one day.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, followed by a minister’s service at 11 a.m., at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. Masks will be required for all attending. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Don’s memory may be made to the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad, 10 E. Highland Ave., Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 or an environmental cause of your choice.
The article originally appeared in the January 27 – February 2, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
