Jonathan Goldstein

Jonathan Marc Goldstein, 67, of Hopkinton passed away recently after a period of declining health. He was born in Boston on Aug. 30, 1958, to the late Judy and Bernie Goldstein, and grew up in Brighton, where he formed friendships that remained important throughout his life.

Jon was outgoing, warm and genuinely interested in people. He had a remarkable ability to remember names and make everyone he encountered feel welcome and important. Whether he had known someone for years or had just met them, Jon had a way of making people feel that he was truly happy to see them.

He had an extraordinary sense of direction and memory for roads and streets, a talent his family eventually came to call his “human GPS.” He loved anything that moved — especially cars, boats, trucks and anything on wheels or water. He also loved oldies music, classic television and sports.

A lifelong Boston sports fan, Jon’s favorite team was the Celtics, and he also loved the Patriots. His love of sports became an important part of his relationship with his son, Jason. He taught Jason basketball, and they spent countless hours watching basketball, football and baseball together. One of Jason’s favorite memories was when Jon took him to Game 1 of the 2004 World Series at Fenway Park, bringing him along as part of a “work trip.” The memory became even more special when the Red Sox went on to win their first World Series in 86 years.

Jon had a strong work ethic and was a natural salesman. He spent many years selling industrial cleaning chemicals to schools, hospitals and other institutions. After disability prevented him from continuing that career, he created his own small transportation business, driving people to airports, medical appointments and wherever else they needed to go. He took great pride in helping people and was willing to work at all hours to get his customers where they needed to go.

Helping others remained an important part of Jon’s life even after he could no longer work. At his adult day health program, he often found his greatest satisfaction in helping the staff — setting tables, stacking chairs and finding other ways to be useful. He was always looking for someone he could help.

Jon was a devoted father to his son, Jason, and was tremendously proud of the life Jason built, especially his family. Jon loved his grandchildren, Benji and Sofie, and was immensely proud to be their grandfather.

Jon was deeply connected to his Jewish heritage. He attended Hebrew school, had a large, traditional bar mitzvah and was an active member of AZA. Later, while raising Jason in Natick, he was a member of Temple Israel. Jewish holidays were especially meaningful as family gatherings filled with the foods Jon loved — chicken soup, brisket, kreplach, matzoh balls, latkes and plenty of family time.

Jon is survived by his son, Jason, and Jason’s wife, Shayna; his grandchildren, Benji and Sofie; his sisters, Cheryl Goldstein Leonard and Susan Goldstein Haberman; and his nieces and nephew, Meredith “Meff” Leonard, Samantha Haberman and Max Haberman. He was predeceased by his parents, Judy and Bernie Goldstein; brother-in-law John Leonard; nephew Mark Leonard; and brother-in-law Bob Haberman.

Jon will be remembered for his warmth, his incredible memory for people and places, his love of family, his strong work ethic and, above all, for the way he made people feel seen, welcomed and important.

A graveside service was held at Independent Pride of Boston Cemetery in Boston on Aug. 18.

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