Jonathan S. Netts ’64

Jon, who came to Princeton from St. Peter’s School near his hometown of Bogota, N.J., died Jan. 9, 2021, in Palm Coast, Fla., of complications of COVID-19. He remained at the University for only one year and earned a bachelor’s degree at Wittenberg and a master’s degree at Fairleigh Dickinson. 

During a distinguished career in education as a teacher, district administrator, and director of a state teacher-training consortium in New Jersey, he also became a licensed real-estate broker, taught courses in real-estate law, and served as a member of the planning board and as city councilman, council president, and deputy mayor of Norwood, N.J.

In 1992 Jon and his wife, Priscilla, whose marriage would span 53 years, moved to Palm Coast, which would be incorporated as a city in 1999. From the start of the city, Jon served in an array of municipal posts, including councilman and vice mayor. In 2007 he was elected to the first of his two four-year terms as mayor. Jon also served on the boards, often as chair, of numerous local civic organizations, including Habitat for Humanity. He received gubernatorial appointments to several state commissions and was cited as “a person to watch” in local government for his leadership on environmental issues. 

Jon is survived by Priscilla, and the class extends its profound condolences to her.