Alfred Gatti

Alfred Henry Gatti was born on Wednesday, September 3, 1947, at the French Hospital in Manhattan, New York City, to parents Frederick and Celestina (Giorcelli) Gatti. The family moved to Flemington, New Jersey, when Al was a preschooler. Together with his older brother, Al was then raised with a deep Italian American heritage in New Jersey. Al graduated from Hunterdon Central High School and continued his education with a scholarship at Northeastern University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education. His first few years of teaching were in New Jersey, but after a couple of years he moved to Oklahoma where he became a gymnastics coach and PE teacher for the Broken Arrow Public Schools. Al was a teacher at Sequoyah Middle School until he retired. Al and Jan Gatti, a fellow teacher at Sequoyah, were married in Tulsa on Thursday, January 18, 1990. He was a generous and dedicated husband, father, and grandfather and enjoyed family travels to Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Florida. His six trips to Brazil included Sao Paulo, the Pantanal, Buzios, Praia do Espelho, Rio de Janeiro, Campos do Jordao, and Itatiaia. (His stepson, Jeremy, lived in Brazil seven years.) The Gattis along with children and grandchildren also vacationed frequently in southwest Florida. Al was passionate about yard work and was truly a perfectionist about it. Each morning began with an inspection for any new weeds which had popped up overnight. Every spring, he planted an abundance of flowers on every side of his home, checking them daily for distress signals and need of water. His flowers were always gorgeous. He was an ultraloyal fan of the OU Sooners football team and, later in life, he relished every game and championship of the OU women’s softball team. His taste in television shows usually involved courtroom drama or mysteries, but every day he watched Treehouse Masters, as well. As far as movies go, A League of Their Own and Starman were at the top of his list. But perhaps nothing brought a bigger smile to Al more than the foods he loved. Favorites such as a steak grilled rare or a slice of Italian panettone cake would brighten his whole face with glee and excitement. He passed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the age of 78. Al was preceded in death by parents, Frederick and Celestina Gatti, and his brother, Robert Gatti. Wife: Janis Gatti of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Children: Michael Gatti (Laurel, Maryland), Teresa Gatti (Tulsa), Jeremy Jameson (Dallas), Geoffrey Jameson (Broken Arrow) Grandchildren: Alice Gatti, Alex Gatti, Hailey Jameson, Owen Jameson, Lyla Jameson, Aubrey Jameson Sister-In-Law: Eileen Gatti (Valparaiso, Indiana)

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Alfred Gatti

September 3, 1947 - May 3, 2026