Jayne Gocken

Jayne Nickerson Gocken loving mother and Grants Director for Public Broadcasting Atlanta passed away Thursday, October 6, 2011. She was passionate about music and the arts, ecology and the environment, and giving back to her community in a variety of ways. She was a board member of Atlanta Music Project, galvanizing force within All Saints Episcopal's earth stewards, advisory board member with the New Leaders Council, dynamic member of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, fundraising strategy contributor for the Global Village School, and cellist with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra. She accomplished all of this in just over two years after moving to Atlanta in April of 2009. She successfully helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars and in doing so enriched all of our lives.

In Columbus, Ohio, Jayne was General Manager for the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra, grant writer for the Columbus Children's Choir, board member of what is now the Greater Columbus Community Orchestra, which she helped build substantially into the organization it is today. Jayne also played cello with the former Upper Arlington Community Orchestra, worked with Goettler Associates assisting clients with feasibilities and fundraising, and was previously with Ernst & Young and Deloitte & Touche as a Management Consultant specializing in the healthcare information systems. She also proudly ran her own antique jewelry and vintage clothing business for many years. Jayne had a lasting impact on whatever she touched.

In the words of colleagues from Columbus to Atlanta, " Jayne was the organizing force"... "once she left, we had to find four people to continue her work"..."she was our guru of sustained donor development and social networking"..."she single-handedly grew the organization"..."she found a way to make things work, and then put it into action." She also helped on a very personal level, with such acts as donating one of her own cellos to a program for young musicians in need. Jayne, we will honor your memory in actions, you led so very well by example.

Jayne was a graduate of the Westminster Schools, the University of Georgia, and received her Masters in Healthcare Administration from The Ohio State University. She is sorely missed by son Charlie Gocken who Jayne felt was the greatest of her achievements; her former husband Michael Gocken; parents Madolyn & John Nickerson; brother Lewis Nickerson and his wife Wilma; sister Susan Nickerson; brother Mike Nickerson; sister Beth Hiers and her husband Chris; as well as extended family, friends and co-workers. Jayne made a difference in many lives and her contributions and memory will continue although she is gone. We will always love you dearly.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church on Saturday afternoon, October 15th, 2011 a time will be finalized at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation in Jayne's name to the Atlanta Food Bank