John Gatt

John Gatt, one of
the original members of
Heritage Hunt Little
Theater, passed away on
October 9, 2023, with his
family by his side. After
moving to Heritage Hunt
John became a loyal, hard-working, and talented
member of HHLT. He was known for his good
nature, creativeness, and talent, as an actor, but
especially as a director and playwright. In his first
foray into HH theater in 2003, he both wrote and
directed The Last Dress Rehearsal. Subsequently he
played Mickey Schlumpgarden, a nightclub owner,
in Charleston in 2004. Later John directed Trouble
at the Tropicana (2005), Reunion at Mt. Sanguine
(2009), and Larceny and Old Lace (2010). For
several years he acted the the master of ceremonies
for the HH Annual Holiday Variety Show.

Born March 18, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan,
John grew up with his siblings, Connie, Joan,
Shirley and Mike, before joining the US Air Force
and beginning a military life that took him around
the world. His career took him and his family (his
wife Dodie, and children Beth, Karen, Theresa,
John, Mary, and Samantha) to a variety of locations,
with his favorite being Munich, Germany where he
was the Deputy Commander of the Army and Air
Force Exchange Service (AAFES). His last
assignment brought him back to Virginia in 1983
where he worked until his military retirement as a
Colonel with 30 years of service. He then began a
25-year career in the automotive industry.