Jonathan R. Karis, 58, of Southborough, passed away unexpectedly at his home on April 2, 2015 after a courageous two-and-a-half year battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife Nancy; his children Matt and Kirsten; his mother Doris, a sister, Kathy and her husband John. He was predeceased by his father Christopher.
Jon was born in Boston and graduated from Harvard College in 1979. After a year of teaching biology at his alma mater Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, Jon decided to go to law school. After graduating from Georgetown University Law Center in 1983, he practiced business and corporate law in Boston for 32 years as a partner first at Hutchins & Wheeler and then at Nixon Peabody. He was a teacher and coach at heart and enjoyed helping new associates grow in their practice of the law.
Jon was passionate about his family. He met his wife, Nancy, in law school and they have been inseparable for the past 32 years. According to Jon, his best investment was his marriage license followed closely by his Patriots season tickets.
Jon was an intensely dedicated fan of his children Matt and Kirsten, and their sports teams. Jon never missed a game whether it was high school sports at Noble & Greenough, baseball at Gettysburg College and the Lexington Blue Sox, or Colby College women’s lacrosse. He could always be found pacing quietly down the third base line or sideline with a superstitious pile of twigs and lucky pennies praying for strikes to be thrown or a defensive stop to be made. Regardless of the outcome of a game, Jon was just happy to be there and watch his kids compete. They will forever be grateful for his unrelenting encouragement, pregame hugs and handshakes, and devout support.
Jon was a loyal son to his parents Christopher and Doris until his father’s passing three years ago. Jon continued to care for and prioritize seeing Doris even through the height of his illness and recovery from surgeries. He loved to visit with her as often as possible, fortuitously including the day before he passed.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Ignatius of Loyola at Boston College, 28 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill at 10:30am on Thursday, April 9 followed by a private burial. Instead of a wake Jon’s family invites friends and family to a reception at their home Friday, April 10 from 1:00 to 7:00pm for those wishing to offer condolences and celebrate his life.
Kirsten will be running the 2015 Boston Marathon in Jon’s honor. As a member of Team Eye and Ear, her fundraising will benefit the Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary where Jon underwent major surgery in September and received wonderful care.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kirsten’s marathon fundraising through the following website: https://www.crowdrise.com/teameyeandear/fundraiser/kirstenkaris
Arrangements are under the care of Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main St, Southborough MA (morrisfuneralparlor.com)
(Obituary via Morris Funeral Home)
