Jerry Charles Septon

Jerry Charles Septon was born in La Grande, Oregon, to Elizabeth Jean (Bauer) Septon, an elementary school teacher, and Leif Adolph Septon, a large animal veterinarian on July 6, 1944, just a few minutes after his identical twin brother Gary yet nonetheless a day later.

Jerry and Gary sometimes wondered what it was like sharing their mother’s womb. Did they fight for space? Could they not even agree to be born on the same day? Perhaps so, because they were very competitive and fought a lot as they were growing up.

Milk and diapers were in short supply because of wartime rationing, but after infancy the boys had a perfectly satisfactory childhood in semi-rural Eugene, Oregon, with memories of berry patches, filbert orchards and picking green beans in the summer. Everyone knew that school would not start until the beans had been harvested and it was the students who were the pickers.

Because of their father’s work assignments with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jerry and his brother attended three different high schools—in Eugene, OR, Reno, NV and Helena, MT. These moves brought them closer and they finally bonded through tennis and skiing.

Jerry attended college in Bozeman, MT, Norman, OK, and Richmond, VA. He graduated with a BS in chemistry from the University of Richmond. Drafted by the US Navy during the Vietnam war, he served as an engineman and was stationed in the Philippines.

Jerry’s first civilian job was with a chemical company in Upstate New York, where the Superfund cleanup of the hazardous waste site at the Love Canal sparked his interest in hazardous environmental contamination. He subsequently accepted a government position with OSHA and was instrumental in developing new sampling techniques and procedures to identify and detect dangerous chemicals. Passionate about all things electronic, he was early to embrace computer technology and was known for his expertise in computerizing OSHA research.

He was delighted when his assignments led him back to the western U.S., and in Salt Lake City, he met his wife, Donna Shattuck. They were very much in love and their 25-year partnership brought them much happiness. For half their marriage they enjoyed the companionship of their beloved rescue dog, a black lab named Sadie. Jerry enjoyed hours throwing balls and walking to the H rock with her.

After his retirement, Jerry developed Parkinsonism, a progressive neurological disorder, and despite treatment, he experienced a slow decline that eventually necessitated admission to an assisted living facility. Donna offered daily love and support so that through his illness, Jerry maintained his sense of humor and optimistic outlook on life. He did not complain about his deteriorating mental and physical limitations and continued to have a devoted circle of family, friends and caregivers.

He especially cherished his relationships with Donna’s daughter Katherine and her daughters Micah Rose and Sydney, who brought love and light with their frequent visits. He was grateful that Donna’s son Eric and his wife Jessica flew to Salt Lake City from their home in Seattle several times so he could know his only grandson, Oliver.

Jerry died peacefully on Veterans Day, November 11 in the presence of his wife and family members. He is survived by his wife Donna Shattuck; her daughter Katherine Walter and her children Micah Rose and Sydney Walter; her son Eric and daughter-in-law Jessica Eidens and their son Oliver; and by his only brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Jan Septon.

The family is immensely grateful for the years of devoted care Jerry received from Nadezhda Syritorova. We are also grateful to the Veterans Administration, especially Dr. Tiffany Volden and the caregivers at the Ridge Foothill, whose extraordinary attention and concern eased his final years.

A celebration of life for Jerry will be held at a later date, please revisit Jerry’s obituary page for details when available.