Background
Gaetz, Donald Jay was born on January 22, 1948 in Rugby, North Dakota, United States. Son of Stanley J. and Olive (Knutson) Gaetz.
Gaetz, Donald Jay was born on January 22, 1948 in Rugby, North Dakota, United States. Son of Stanley J. and Olive (Knutson) Gaetz.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Concordia College, 1983.
Asst, Senator Milton R. Young United States Senate, 1966-1967, assistant, Senator Everett M. Dirksen, 1968-1969. Editor Cavalier County Republican, Langdon, North Dakota, 1970-1972. Executive director Communication Arts, Minneapolis, 1972-1974.
General secretary Bellin Hospital Foundation, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1974-1978. Vice president Methodist Hospital and Foundation, Jacksonville, Florida, 1978-1981. President ABC Home Health Services of Florida, 1978-1981.
Administrator Methodist Hospice, 1980-1981. Vice president Hospice Foundation, Miami, Florida, 1981-1983. Executive vice president Hospice Care, Inc.-Hospice, Inc.
Founder, vice chairman VITAS healthcare corporation. Town chairman City of Seaside, Florida, 1990—1991. Member Okaloosa County School Board, 1994—2000, chairman, 1995—1996, superintendent, 2000—2006.
Member District 4 Florida State Senate, Tallahassee, since 2006, chair policy and steering committee on social responsibility, health regulation committee, select committee on Florida's economy, member policy steering committee on energy, environment and land use, policy and steering committee on ways and means, education preK-12 committee, rules committee, member health and human services appropriations committee. Co-chairman National Hospice Education Project, 1980-1982. President National Hospice Organization, 1982-1983, chairman board, 1983-1984.
State campaign chairman North Dakota Republican party, 1968. Member President's Commission on Campus Unrest, 1970. Chairman Florida Governor's Committee on Long Term Health Care, 1980.
Board directors Green Bay Area Free Clinic, 1977-1978, Wisconsin Cancer Society, 1975-1978, Family Health Services of Florida, 1981-1982. Member Southern Gerontological Society, American Society Newspaper Editors, National Press Club, National Hospice Organization (director 1979-1984), Florida State Hospice Organization (chairman 1979-1981), Pi Kappa Delta Clubs: Miami Shores Country.
Married Victoria Quertermous. Children— Matthew Louis II, Erin Victoria.