Jonathan Clifford "Jon" Bates

March 19, 1981 – October 10, 2026

Jonathan Clifford "Jon" Bates, 45, of Boulder, Colorado, died of cancer on Saturday, October 10, 2026, surrounded by family, after a seven-month illness.

Jon was born on March 19, 1981, in Hampton, Virginia, to Linda and Wayne Bates, and spent most of his childhood in Meredith, New Hampshire. He graduated from MIT and later earned a master's degree from Northwestern University.

Jon built a successful career in finance in New York before trading Wall Street for a new challenge in data and technology. He co-founded two companies and went on to become a leader in applied AI, most recently at Databricks, where he led a team of AI engineers working hands-on with companies to solve their hardest problems. He was known as much for the people he lifted up as for the work itself. He brought curiosity, warmth, and humor to his work, cared about his colleagues as people, and had a gift for helping others grow. He was a lifelong learner who devoured books and was always ready with a recommendation.

Jon loved being outside and on the move, whether skiing, hiking, gravel racing, running, or rock climbing. He always had a goal he was training toward, and more than anything, he cherished sharing those adventures with his family. He moved fast, but he made sure everyone came along.

Jon is survived by his wife of 16 years, Sara; their children, Anna and Oliver; his mother, Linda Bates; his brother, Christopher (Gail) Bates; his sisters, Cathy Brandt and Julie (John) Oppen; his aunt, Nancy Wagner (Debbie Donnelly); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Bates.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, and details will be shared when available. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation in Jon's memory.