Jonathan Michael Christy

Jonathan Michael Christy, 46, of Vero Beach, Florida disappeared on Saturday, October 14, 2023, while swimming in the ocean.

Born in Marietta, OH, on June 9, 1977, Jonathan was the son of Mary Lou (Heron) and Frank L. Christy, of Vero Beach, FL. He grew up in Marietta, OH, and Vero Beach, FL, and was a 1995 high school graduate of Vero Beach’s St. Edward’s School. Jonathan graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1999 where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He completed a master's degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology at Naropa University in Boulder, CO in 2016.

He was married to Jennifer Faletto on December 29, 2007, in Chicago, IL. The couple resided in Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory, Sydney, New South Wales, Boulder, Colorado, and Vero Beach, Florida during their sixteen years of marriage.

A Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Addiction Counselor in the state of Colorado, and a member of the American Counseling Association, Jonathan’s private practice focused on mindfulness-based, somatic, and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. While in Colorado, he worked as a youth advocate at Mental Health Partners, counseled students at Naropa University, led Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Smart Recovery, and other mental health recovery groups in numerous settings, and provided individual and group therapy to inmates at Boulder County Jail. Prior to transitioning to work as a psychotherapist, he spent twelve years leading and consulting on technology and business turnaround projects in the United States and Australia.

Jonathan earned a private pilot license from Flight Safety in Vero Beach and flew Piper aircraft, was certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver, loved to captain boats, ride trains, and hike in the woods. He was a passionate road cyclist, swimmer, skier, and world traveler, living in Italy and France in his twenties and able to speak the languages of both countries. He later traveled as far south as Antarctica and to the far norths of Sweden and Norway, and many places in between. He was a wonderful piano player and student of music, favoring Tchaikovsky and British rock bands. Jonathan made world-class breakfast smoothies, was keenly interested in water filtration systems for domestic kitchens and appreciated in equal measure Chicago hot dogs and crisp cold-water oysters.

More than his widespread talents, tireless work ethic, limitless curiosity and dry humor, Jonathan will be remembered for his kindness and quick smile. He applied the philosophy of his therapeutic practice to his daily life and made anyone in his company feel at ease. “Everything we do will be held within an atmosphere of profound gentleness - friendliness not only to the person you wish to be, but also to the person you are right now.”

Whether standing in awe of a flower, a rocket ship, a Fibonacci sequence, or a performance of Script Ohio, Jonathan’s experience of joy was his most beautiful gift, and he was never happier than when sharing something he loved with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Faletto, mother Mary Lou (Heron) Christy of Vero Beach, FL, sister Kathleen Christy White and her husband Dax White of Wilmette, IL, five nieces and nephews, scores of the greatest aunts, uncles, and cousins on the globe, the finest of friends, and his trusted shepherd, Dr. Dog.

Jonathan was preceded in death by his father, Frank L. Christy.

Funeral Liturgy Celebration will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at The Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption in Marietta, OH. In lieu of sending flowers, please celebrate Jonathan by sending a donation to his favorite flower farm: Wildroot Flower Co., Attn: Lyndsay Biehl, 321 Forshey Road, Marietta, OH 45750.

Local arrangements have been entrusted to Cawley & Peoples Funeral Homes. Additional resources available at www.CawleyandPeoples.com .