Jonathan Earle Pettit

died peacefully with his family at his side on August 19, 2013 at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle at the age of 61 after battling appendiceal cancer for more than two years.Jon was born in Princeton, NJ on March 29, 1952, the fourth child of William Dutton Pettit Sr. and Carole Helene Earle.He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Barbara Braun Pettit of Bainbridge Island, WA, and his three daughters, Kate Estelle Pettit of San Diego, CA and partner Christy Garcia of San Francisco, CA, Emily Elisabeth Haines and husband Jeff of Seattle, WA, and Margaret Earle Kizer and husband Lyle of Seattle, WA. Jon also leaves behind his 93-year old father, William Dutton Pettit Sr. of Seattle, WA, siblings Carol Lovelock (Joe) of Island Park, NY, Penelope Kreinberg (Bob) of Portland, OR, William Pettit Jr. (Kathy) of Seattle, WA, Donald Pettit (Joan) of Baltimore, MD, and 13 nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his mother, Carole Helene Earle.Jon worked at the DLR Group, a national architecture and engineering firm, rising to the position of managing principal over a 36-year career. His talent lay in the ability to mentor those with whom he worked. He was educated at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, and University of Washington, Seattle, WA.Jon did everything with energy and a boyish love of play. He enjoyed golfing at Wing Point or Tumble Creek with his friends and fly fishing in the rivers of Washington and Montana. Family was all-important to Jon. Nothing meant more to him than a quiet chat with a family member on the patio overlooking Blakely Harbor. Over the years he coached his daughters in softball and was their biggest cheerleader at water polo, softball, and lacrosse games in high school and college. Jon and Barb began biking together as their daughters grew older, both on the familiar roads of the island and in France, Italy, Napa, and Death Valley.Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Jon's life on Sunday September 8, 2013 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Wing Point Golf and Country Club, 811 Cherry Avenue NE, Bainbridge Island, WA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jon's name to FareStart, c/o Development Office, 700 Virginia Street, Seattle, WA, 98101. FareStart is a non-profit organization that provides culinary job training and placement for homeless men and women, where Jon served on the board for nine years.Please sign the online Guest Book for the family.Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home.