Jay Andrew Golub died peacefully in his sleep at Careage in Coupeville on February 4, 2012.

Jay is survived by his wife Barbara.  A resident of South Whidbey since 2001, Jay was active in the Master Gardener program on the Island and played a key role in that group’s establishing the Demonstration Garden at Greenbank Farm. Jay and Barbara owned and operated Lily Days Nursery, specializing in daylilies and iris, in Clinton.

Born in the Bronx, New York, on January 14, 1932, Jay earned an engineering degree at Cooper Union in New York City. He worked for many years in the naval and aerospace industries. In addition to his career in industrial engineering, Jay was a businessman and inventor. He designed and created jewelry and artistic works of wood.

He and his first wife Edwina, who pre-deceased him, were parents of four children: Ronni Dockstader of Hesperia, Calif.; Linda Montecorena (Bill), of Laguna Hills, Calif.; Neil Golub (Deborah) of Brea, Calif.; and Timna Smith (Fil) of La Mirada, Calif.  Jay is also survived by nine grandchildren: Jared Nickola, Matthew Golub, Jonathan Golub, Erin Golub, Michelle Golub, Drew Marticorena, Brieana Marticorena, Caitlin Marticorena, and Courtney Smith, and by two great-grandchildren. 

Jay is lovingly remembered as well by his step-children of his marriage to Barbara: Cindy Pardee (Greg) of Clyde Hill, Wash., David Engelbrecht of Ontario, Calif., and Sarah Reece (Jamie) of Edmonds, Wash., and their children Danny, Lauren and Amanda Pardee, Adriana Engelbrecht, and Ainsley Reece.

Everyone who knew Jay remembers his wit and sense of humor, his intelligence and creativity, his easy laugh, and his warm friendship.  A celebration of Jay’s life will be held at the home of Cindy and Greg Pardee. For information or directions, contact Cindypardee@aol.com. Anyone who would like to do so is invited to honor Jay’s memory with a donation to his or her favorite charity.