Jonathan S. Angel

Jon was born on May 20, 1951 to Larry and Peggy Angel in Philadelphia, spending much of his early childhood in Pennsylvania until moving to Bethesda, MD at age 11. He spent the rest of his life in the Washington, DC area.

Growing up, Jon enjoyed playing with his brother Steve, sister Elizabeth, and many friends in Philadelphia and Bethesda. Summers always included trips to Cape Cod, which continued throughout his life and became his most treasured place. In 1969, he graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and attended two years of college at SUNY Old Westbury in New York. He then began a long and fulfilling career in the federal government, working as an Information Specialist with the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically with the Public Health Service.

He met his wife and the love of his life Cathy at a Unitarian mixer in 1982. Cathy and Jon married in 1990 and were happily married for 33 years. They enjoyed long drives on country roads followed by dinner dates, and spending time with their family and friends.

Jon was an adept photographer, taking many pictures of Cape Cod that would later adorn his home. He was also a devoted father, supporting his sons’ various extracurriculars and interests. He kept lifelong friendships, especially with his Liberal Religious Youth (LRY) compatriots, and spent many Memorial and Labor Day weekends camping together in Virginia. He also had a deep connection with his congregation, Shirat HaNefesh, with which he was a longtime choir member and a board member. In retirement, he was proud to be a grandfather twice over, finding joy in providing daycare for them with Cathy while their parents were working.

Following his retirement, he had an initial bout with cancer of the tongue, which he overcame after surgery and radiation. Years later, he developed a sarcoma of the scalp, which unfortunately had metastasized prior to detection. He underwent treatment with a combination of surgery, radiation and later chemotherapy, but unfortunately was unable to overcome this disease prior to his death.

Jon is survived by his wife Cathy, sons Bobby, Zack and Toby, daughter-in-law Colleen, nieces Sarah and Jenny, nephew Joshua, and grandchildren Casey and Sadie. Jon was preceded in death by his parents, Larry and Peggy, his sister Elizabeth, and brother Steve.

A memorial service and burial will be held on July 20, 2023 at 1pm at the Garden of Remembrance at 14321 Comus Rd, Clarksburg, MD 20871. A livestream of the service will be available on the Garden of Remembrance’s website for those unable to attend in person. A gathering for family and friends will be held at Cathy’s home immediately after the service as well as on July 24 and 26 from 7-9pm.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, family and friends consider a donation to the Association to Preserve Cape Cod.