Jay Anthony Gould of Sacramento, CA died Thursday June 20, 2024, at age 85. 

Jay was born July 28, 1938 in San Francisco.  He moved to Sacramento in 1942.  He attended Crocker, California Junior High and McClatchy High School class of 1956. Jay attended UC Berkeley & UC Davis. He graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He also married Linda M. Hoyt that same year and they moved to Honolulu where Jay began his accounting career. 

In 1962 Jay returned to Sacramento and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He received his Certified Public Accountant certificate in 1964 and in 1966 he enrolled in the graduate program at Cal State University Sacramento & received his Masters in 1969. 

Jay worked with many private CPA firms and ended up having a 33 year career with the State of California. He also decided to get his Real Estate Broker’s License. 

Now - the good stuff:  Jay loved sports and dogs.  

He played both baseball and basketball through high school and continued to play baseball until his 50’s. He participated in the Slo-Pitch Softball World Series in 1972.  In 1978, he was inducted into the Sacramento Softball Hall Of Fame, one of the many highlights of his life.  His best friend Larry Kelly presented him with the award.  Jay also coached many teams with Pocket Girls Softball and also at St. Francis High School.  Jay was a walking encyclopedia of sports knowledge, whether it was his playing days, his daughter’s or any MLB, NBA or NFL game. He had a crazy smart encyclopedic memory and would remember what inning, how many runners on base, how many outs and how many balls and strikes the batter had. 

Jay was into lifting weights with the younger guys. He’d talk about it often and how much he could bench or squat. He also rode his bike with a group of friends around Lake Tahoe.  He was an avid runner and loved running in Land Park and Southside Park.  Rumor has it he would not look around before spitting and often got his daughter in the face, arms, legs etc.

Jay liked animals more than humans; it was their unconditional love.  When a loved pet would pass away that’s when you truly got a glimpse of his heart and just how big it was. He loved going to the dog park and truly enjoyed all of his friends there.  He talked about them often with his family. 

Words and phrases that best described him were honest - intelligent and what ya get is what ya see. Jay was one of those men that EVERYONE liked and admired.  He also had THE best laugh.  You knew when he was enjoying something.  Especially when he was eating ice cream, corn on the cob or his Thanksgiving dinner.  He had his way of piling everything on top of each other and just dug in. 

Dad was our glue. Jay was greeted up there by Big Nana and Kamps - his parents. We’re also sure that more than a few pets who crossed the Rainbow Bridge jumped all over him.  

Jay is survived by his wife Linda, Son Deron, Daughter Dayna (John), and Enzo (his dog).  Grandchildren Kiersten and Jackson and his cousin Roger Janow. 

Jay wished for no funeral.  But something he would have liked is, next time you’re in Tahoe at Garwoods - toast him with his favorite drink - The Wet Woody!