Jonathan G. Mathis

Paxton, MA – Jonathan George Mathis, 68, died suddenly at his home on Sunday, November 30, 2025, from complications of polycystic kidney disease. Born in Champaign, Illinois, and raised in Norman, Oklahoma, Jon was the son of the late George R. and Barbara (Browns) Mathis.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Freiberg Robertson, of Paxton; his daughter, Julia Mathis, of Northampton, MA; and his son, Daniel Mathis, of Gaithersburg, MD. Jon is also survived by his brother, Rob Mathis, and his wife, Sheila, of Charlottesville, VA; his stepdaughter, Emily Robertson, and her life partner, Andrew Gifford, of Brighton, MA. He also is survived by many wonderful cousins, neighbors, and countless friends, as well as his beloved cat, Murray, and step-dog, Pip.

His previous marriage to Mary Shomon ended in divorce. The family is very grateful to the fantastic, competent and caring doctors and nurses at the UMass Memorial Medical Center and UMass University Campus, the Barre Health Center and Preferred Transitions, particularly his visiting nurse, Teresa. They are grateful as well to the Paxton Police, particularly Officer Tim Larkham, and the Paxton Fire Department.

Jon was a longtime member of and sung in the choir at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church in Kensington, Maryland. He became a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester in 2024 and sang in that church’s choir until his illness prevented him from participating. He had a beautiful bass speaking and singing voice. One of the congregational leaders from the Worcester church who sat behind him during one of the first services we attended heard him singing and literally gasped. Afterward, she told him he must, must, must sing in the choir. He grew up singing in church choirs and remembers singing as early as 6 years old. Many people also spoke of Jon’s “FM Radio” voice and said he had missed his calling.

Jon was dedicated to helping children further their education and enrich their lives. He tutored a fourth grader struggling with school in the District of Columbia, and volunteered in several capacities at the Tracy Foundation, which, among other features, gave young musicians the opportunity to perform at more than 100 concerts a year. They played at hospitals, retirement homes, and community centers in supported housing facilities in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

He also became a member of the Conservation Committee for the town of Paxton.

Jon loved animals, nature in general and streams in particular, absurdist comedy, performance, and, of course, his many family members and friends. His family and friends remember him as a funny, witty man who loved to make people laugh. He was, in fact, an ordained minister with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. He adored the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont and kept hoping to see his first moose there. He never did, but enjoyed seeing birds, deer, bears and porcupines. His love for animals was so strong that the family wonders if Jon is joining the kitties he loved over the years, including Dave, Cali, Tommy and Olive. Only a few weeks before he died, he was delighted by seeing a young opossum in our yard. He loved our home in Paxton, and we were both amazed at how incredibly embracing and inclusive our new neighbors were and are. Jon had a love for public transportation, especially trains, from old trolleys to the Metro he rode to work every day for years. His daughter remembers when he’d drive them to a parking a lot by the railroad track just to sit and watch the trains go by. His son has a happy memory of the times they would go to the little basement he rented near his mother’s house after the divorce and watch movies. His wife remembers them going to a train museum in Pennsylvania, and how he went from train to train, excited as a child to see them, especially the old steam-powered trains. He followed college football and loved to play disc golf. He played the bass guitar, and a little piano. He sang with the Glee Club at Rutgers University, with a quartet called The Whatever Four. He was a great handyman around the house and was friendly, polite and engaging with everyone he met. He had a positive attitude toward life in general and endured his illness with courage and hope. Jon lived in Norman, Oklahoma, until he graduated from high school. After college and graduate school, he lived in Virginia and Maryland until he and his wife, Nancy, moved to Paxton, MA, in November 2024.

Jon attended his beloved University School, associated with the University of Oklahoma, from kindergarten until it closed in 1973. He then attended Norman High School (NHS), graduating with the Class of 1975. He attended the University School all-school reunion a couple of years ago. Due to illness, he missed the in-person NHS Class of 1975’s 50th reunion but enjoyed attending a Zoom session in which he spoke to many of his classmates.

After high school, he completed his undergraduate studies (with high honors) in political science at Rutgers University in 1979 and later earned a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.

Jon worked for the federal government for 37 years before retiring in 2016. In his last position he served as Senior Strategist for Innovation and Strategic Planning and Co-Lead of Federal Innovation Community of Practice for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In that capacity, he coordinated the development and implementation of NIH administrative strategic plans and related innovations, researched and promulgated best practices for innovation in government, and supported evaluation and implementation of new communication tools and training materials. He also held other positions at NIH, including Instructor, Nonprofit Budgeting, for the Institute of Policy Studies, and Director, Office of Administrative Services, for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Previously, he worked in a budgeting capacity for the U.S. Navy and the Department of Energy.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service honoring and celebrating Jonathan’s life at 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, located at 140 Shore Drive, in Worcester, MA. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden, MA.

In lieu of flowers, if you are able, please donate to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation