Jay Gulla

   John 'Jay' Gulla, age 69 of Waltham formerly of Watertown, passed away on February 4, 2026. Beloved husband to Linda (Fuqua) Gulla. Loving father of Jessica McCubbin & her husband Wesley, Becky Sampson; step father to Jennifer Marlene & her fiance Matthew Smith and Scott Arispe & his wife Jaime. Cherished 'Papa' to Shelby, Kendall & Avree McCubbin, Rylee & Cameron Sampson, Luke & Chase Anderson and Tyler & Cole Arispe. Dear brother to Cathy Hartford & her husband Richard, Joann Coppi and her husband Paul, Lorraine Brutti & her husband Robert, Theresa Chamness and Chuck Gulla & his wife Sharon. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. 

    Jay proudly served his country and community throughout a lifetime defined by dedication, duty, and quiet strength. He worked for the Town of Watertown for over 30 years, where he was known for his reliability, strong work ethic, and commitment to public service.

    Jay also devoted 30 years to the United States Army, retiring with honor as a Sergeant First Class. His military service was extensive and distinguished. He served during Desert Storm and in Kosovo, where he worked alongside NATO forces. His deployments and assignments took him to Kuwait, Paraguay, and Pristina. Jay was a proud participant in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle, and he was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He also contributed his expertise to the Force Tracking System operations and was honored to be part of the 2002 Olympics.

   A proud veteran, Jay remained actively involved in the veteran community. He was a member of the American Legion in Waltham, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Watertown, and assisted the Mayor of Waltham with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He took pride in maintaining strong bonds with fellow servicemen and women.

    Jay’s life was one of service—to his country, his town, and those around him. His dedication and sacrifice will be remembered with gratitude and respect by all who knew him.

   Family and friends are welcome to come celebrate Jay's life by gathering for visiting hours in the Nardone Funeral Home, 373 Main St. Watertown on Tuesday February 10, 2026 from 4-7 PM. Funeral services and burial will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jay’s honor to a cause he cared deeply about:

DAV (Disabled American Veterans)

P.O. Box 550024

Waltham, MA 02455

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