Allen Crawford "Jock" Gaetjens

An early car trip to Boston gave him the open heart surgery to cure his Patent ductus arteriosus. Unusual at that time his parents made the difficult choice after gathering gas coupons from all of their friends. After the successful surgery the train trip home with his mother cemented his love for trains and travel and an attitude toward life that any challenge could be conquered.

Jock always loved cars and had an amazing talent to keep them running. His propensity for speed---on ski slopes or more notably on the highway led to his basketball pool nickname “Leadfoot.”

Travel as a child in family road trips out West grew to adult travel for business with Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. in Japan, Brazil, and the USSR in the 1970s. His negotiations for business in the Soviet Union were conducted in Paris, the international city he loved the most.

Jock’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University led to his professional career with General Electric, Ingersoll, and eventually his own company, Creative Controls.

His love for things mechanical included a pilot’s license and plane which was used for trips to Helena, Montana. Jock also used his plane to visit family and it was on a visit to Cleveland where he and his future bride reconnected. This began a friendship of many Saturday morning WATTS phone calls establishing the friendship that served as the foundation of their marriage July 10, 1985.

Travel continued to be important and summers alternated between traveling in Europe and the continental U.S. with frequent trips to Cape Cod to visit his brother Dave and soon including Martha. Always an independent spirit, foreign travel typically included car rentals and driving was never a challenge except for Rome or Stuttgart, but those were his navigator’s issues.

He always had ideas for his home. One of Sissy’s least favorites was the long Memorial Day weekend where she came home to three paint test strips on the garage door and the pronouncement they’d be painting the exterior of their two-story home for the holiday.

A true gentleman, Jock belonged to an earlier time where doors were held open and on a sidewalk he would position himself closer to the traffic for Sissy’s safety.

Beloved entertainments included years of attendance at performances of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Zach Scott Theater, Broadway in Austin. Fanatic attendance at University of Texas football games waned as it got more difficult, but he was always a dedicated UT Women’s Basketball fan with season tickets from 1986 on.

Jock was very proud of the next generation of Gaetjens. Older son Stuart and Cara with Will and Mallory, Thomas and soon Bonnie, Linnea, and Britta. Younger son Steve and Kristin with Scott and Kelsey and also Jeff and Ellyn. The precious great grands include Adeline and Lydia, Davis and Jolie, and Kelly and Andy.

Jock’s mother Elizabeth Gaetjens lived to the age of 106 and served as the family’s bellwether in so very many ways including her favorite E.M. Forster quotation, “Only connect.”

In the past year Heather Baker made their home life possible in so many ways. The family is also grateful for Silverado Hospice most especially Regina, Melissa, and Ryan. And the Monarch at Cedar Park where Jock was safe and loved in his final months with special gratitude to Kristil.

Should you wish to honor Jock with a donation his faith community is First United Methodist Church in Round Rock, or the Alzheimer’s Association, or the charity of your choice.

A memorial service for Allen will be held Tuesday, July 30, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, Texas 78731. Following the memorial service will be a graveside service from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Dr, Austin, Texas 78731. A reception will follow the graveside service.