From Yachts and Yachting:


Jon Montgomery, the designer of the Catapult, that has given us all so much pleasure over the years, died yesterday.
Jon had been suffering from lung cancer for the last couple of years. He soldiered on remarkably through both chemo- and radiotherapy, until about three weeks ago when he entered his final decline. Typical of Jon, in his last few weeks he had (with his son Alex's help because he was in a wheelchair) been preparing various tips to go on the new class website.
Jon was a remarkable man who had a vision for a unique catamaran that would become a design classic, which he took from the drawing board to reality on the water. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his vision, amazing expertise and dedication. He was also a great guy to know, and I am glad we were able to demonstrate our deep affection for him and for his design at the Catapult 25th Anniversary Regatta at Bala in 2007.
We have much admiration for Jon, not just for the Catapult, but also for Jon's revolutionary Quatrefoil radio-controlled model catamaran that he had been campaigning very successfully, and which he hoped might one day be adopted by a syndicate and turned into a full size, ocean going, round-the-world record breaker. Certainly Jon's passing needs to be marked for all he has done for sailing.

-- Stuart Ede in Yachts and Yachting

I am very sad to hear the news. I am afraid that I haven't been in touch with Jon for quite a few years. I did not know that he was ill. I raced the Catapult for 6 seasons and acted as Jon's agent in Ireland. We were good friends over those years (I bought Alex's Lego collection for my eldest son, when Alex wanted to buy his first computer). We raced Round Sheppey and Nationals together. One year, we finished Sheppey within a boat lenght of each other in light wind, having chatted together for the final mile. My thoughs are with Sue and Alex.