Jon Visintainer’s family has a long, rich history with Gonzaga. His father, Ben Visintainer (’57), and four of Jon’s siblings are all Gonzaga graduates. Jon himself is a 2012 graduate of the Professional Studies Emerging Leaders program and an employee at a mechanical and engineering firm that has designed buildings across Gonzaga’s campus, including the Kennel and The Hemmingson Center. Jon also credits Gonzaga with playing a role in bringing him together with his fiancé, Karin Wright.
Jon and Karin connected twice through dating websites four years ago. At the time, they did not know just how much of a Gonzaga connection they shared. After a month of emails back and forth, they decided to meet in person, though they hadn’t decided when or where yet.
Jon had received a pair of tickets to the February 27, 2010, Gonzaga men’s basketball game against San Francisco and planned on taking his son to what would be their first game in the Kennel together. That game would change Jon’s life forever.
Jon and Karin watching Gonzaga women’s basketball in 2011
Karin was going to be at the game, too, albeit on a date with someone else. Jon told Karin that he would be there and the two met up at halftime on the south concourse. That was their first time meeting each other face to face and the encounter was very brief. Yet, after another month or so, Jon and Karin quickly became inseparable.
Jon later learned that Karin’s father had season tickets to the Zags and was a partner in the architectural firm that designed the Kennel. Jon and Karin’s connections to each other and to Gonzaga were becoming closer as each day went by. Almost a year after their first encounter, Jon purchased season tickets for Gonzaga women’s basketball and he and Karin have been going to the games regularly ever since.
In December of 2012, Jon decided he wanted to propose to Karin. He asked for and received approvals and blessings from his own sons, Karin’s father and Karin’s son, Jimmy. Jon wanted to propose at the Kennel but couldn’t find a way to make it happen. He was determined to ask for Karin’s hand in marriage in the Kennel and on December 29, 2012, while the Gonzaga women’s basketball team prepared to take on the women of Washington State University, Jon took Karin for their usual walk-around. The ushering staff helped let them through to have a look at the old Kennel. When they made it to the south end of the old Kennel, they tucked themselves in a corner overlooking the old basketball floor. Jon casually talked about their time together dating and then brought out a ring. Karin shrieked with excitement.
Karin and Jon were engaged at the Kennel
“I’m surprised everyone in the Kennel didn’t hear her scream!” Jon recalls. “She said ‘yes!’”
They plan to be married in the summer of 2014.
Over the years, Jon has chosen to give back to Gonzaga through gifts to the Bulldog Club and to the Gonzaga Scholars Program. Jon and Karin are very grateful for their connections to Gonzaga.
“We both feel this match is a gift from God and He has blessed our lives with truly a match made in heaven and with the love of the Zags,” said Jon. “We have shared in so many wonderful experiences together over these last 4 years together. There is so much more to our amazing story together, but it all began at that Zags game back in February of 2010.”
If you have some love to give, pass it on with a gift to Gonzaga. Visit gonzaga.edu/give today.