Dr. Jon D. Goguen Obituary

Dr. Jon Dana Goguen, 71, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, shortly after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma. He leaves behind his loving wife of 49 years, Cheryl A. Poirier; her devoted daughter Amber D. Goguen and her husband Douglas A. Kirkpatrick of Worcester; 4 brothers, Peter J. Goguen of Limerick, ME, Jay D. Goguen of Hubbardston, Robin A. Goguen of Lunenburg, and Alan M. Goguen of Lawrence; 3 sisters, Patricia H. Silvestro of Temple, NH., April L. Gendron of Fitchburg, and Randy C. Goguen of Tracys Landing, MD, as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews, family, and friends. He also leaves behind his affectionate cat Ndebe (Be).

Jon was born in Fitchburg, MA, the son of the late Arthur Peter and Helen (Barholm) Goguen. A graduate of Fitchburg High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Fitchburg State College and a master’s and doctorate. in zoology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He began his career as a Research Associate in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and held his first position as Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis, TN. Beginning in 1986, Jon became Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medicine School in Worcester, where he studied the bacteria that cause bubonic plague. During his partial retirement, Jon began working for the startup company 3X Genetics, where he helped develop diagnostic tools for myotonic dystrophy.

Jon loved the outdoors and wild places. He spent a good part of his youth exploring the woods around his home and then many hiking and backpacking trips through New England, particularly in the White Mountains. An avid traveler, he also enjoyed exploring natural places during many trips to Arizona and other places around the US and abroad. He loved canoeing the local rivers and went on several long canoe trips through the Canadian wilderness with his wife. He enjoyed spending time at the off-grid family camp in Maine, as well as yearly stays at AMC’s Cold River Camp in Chatham NH. Jon was also an avid bird watcher. He shared this passion with his wife, Cheryl, whom he met at a bird banding center in Ashby, MA.

Jon had an adventurous spirit with his eyes in the sky. In his youth he enjoyed skydiving and hang gliding. Throughout his life, he flew many small aircraft and, most recently, was an active member of the Greater Boston Soaring Club. The highlight of his life was being able to fly the Collings Foundation’s WWII-era P-51 Mustang.

Jon could fix just about anything and had an electronics lab at home, as well as a carpentry and metal shop in his basement. He was creative and inventor, with several patents to his name. He had an amateur radio operator’s license, was an avid golfer, chess player, lifelong learner, voracious reader, and deep thinker. In the family he was famous for his bad parent jokes (known colloquially as ‘Goguen jokes’) and silly poetry.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 11:00 am at Worcester Unitarian Universalist Church, 90 Holden Street, Worcester, MA. A light lunch will follow the celebration. There are no phone hours. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jon’s memory can be made to the Science Seminar at Wachusett Regional High School or online to the Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL). To donate to Science Seminar, checks should be made payable to WRSD with Science Seminar on the memo line. Checks can be picked up at Jon’s Celebration of Life or mailed directly to his wife (once picked up, checks will be hand-delivered at Science Seminar). Jon was an active member of Science Seminar for many years and has enjoyed inspiring and training the next generation of scientists like himself. Jon was also a cat lover and enjoyed helping his wife raise kittens for her adoption through WARL.

Nordgren Memorial Chapel 300 Lincoln St. Worcester is honored to help the family with the arrangements. To leave a message of condolence online, visit Nordgrenmemorialchapel.com.