Seth Isaac Gutman

On the evening of 11/21/2025 the world suddenly lost an amazing man. A wife lost a wonderful, loving and caring husband. Two stepsons lost a beloved stepfather that cared for them every moment of the day. Four grandchildren lost PopPop who loved and adored them from the day they were born. The larger family lost a brother, an uncle, a cousin that cared deeply for each of them and friends lost someone that was always there to listen, talk or do what he could to help and always with a smile on his face. Seth Isaac Gutman was born 10/4/1946 in Silver City, New Mexico to Samuel and Miriam (Zukoff) Gutman. They moved to Brooklyn, NY when Seth was 4 and sister Judy was born. Seth graduated from Division Avenue High School in 1964 where he won a Future Scientist of America award. He attended Park College in Kansas City, MO to study astronomy as Seth was always fascinated with space flight and astronomy. He aspired to be an astronaut. Seth planned a gap year; however, he enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed at Edwards AFB in CA where he served as an Air Operations Specialist (air traffic controller) at the flight training center during the Vietnam War. In 1968 Seth's Air Force patch was carried to the moon and back by Frank Borman, Colonel USAF, NASA Astronaut on Apollo 8. After four years in the Air Force, Seth completed his undergraduate degree in Geophysics at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ and then went to graduate school at the University of California, Riverside. Seth entered the oil business with Tetra Tech in Pasadena, CA. This career took him to Reston, VA; Houston, TX; New Orleans, LA; and finally to Denver, CO in 1982. During these years Seth worked internationally and on the North Slope of Alaska. Seth then started his company Carterra to work on charting the earth through space utilizing GPS technology in transportation. This was a precursor to GPS maps used in cars today. In 1990 Seth sold Carterra and started work as a physical scientist with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) at the Wind Profiler Project in Boulder, CO. Seth won numerous awards for his research on GPS Meteorology including the Department of Commerce Gold medal in 2006 for the development of GPS-Met and NOAA outstanding scientific paper awards in 2007 and 2008 (2). He was awarded a NOAA Bronze Medal in 2010 for innovative contributions to the development of the Coastal Atmospheric River Monitoring and Early Warning System. He also received an Administrator's Award from NOAA in 2011 for long-term leadership in establishing a national ground-based GPS observing network. Seth enjoyed his work and the potential to save lives with improved weather forecasting. Many lives have been saved globally due to his work and that of his colleagues. Seth met Janet Ellsworth (Barger) from Tulsa, Oklahoma while on business at the National Weather Service, Norman, OK. They became engaged in 1998 and married in 2000. Seth then took on his favorite role as Step PaPa/SPP to Todd and Eric. Seth and Janet started their married life in Golden, CO and moved to Louisville, CO in 2001 where they resided for 15.5 years. In 2011 Seth became a grandfather and took on the cherished title of PopPop. Seth retired from NOAA in 2014 when the second grandchild was born so he and Janet could spend more time with family and enjoy their retirement years. They returned to Tulsa, OK January 2017 to be near Janet's parents who were residing at Montereau retirement community in Tulsa and to help with their grandchildren as identical twin siblings were on their way in February! These were undoubtedly Seth's happiest years as he watched and nurtured his grandchildren and also attended their numerous activities and sports. Seth and Janet embraced the Tulsa community by joining and attending museums, the performing arts and Boston Avenue United Methodist Church where their interfaith marriage continued to flourish. They had previously attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Denver, CO for seventeen years. Seth was true to his Jewish faith yet always inclusive and demonstrated openness to others of any religion. Seth was as kind of a man as you'll ever meet, brilliant and utterly altruistic. Seth is survived by his wife, Janet, beloved stepsons Todd Ellsworth of New Orleans and Eric Ellsworth (Whitney) of Tulsa, cherished grandchildren: Olivia, Holden, Luke and Reid Ellsworth, sister Judy Cataldo (Dan) of Bellmore, NY, Cousins: Ann Imberman of Rolling Hills, CA, Mike (Penny) Greenberg of Wantagh, NY, Joni (Ray) Ulmer of Holland, PA, numerous nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Linda Hopkins (Johnnie) of Tulsa, and step brother-in-law/friend Gene Arnn of Westminster, Co. Seth would want to give special thanks to: St. Francis care team - Dr. David Okada, Lisa Armstrong, APRN, Dr. Donald Higgins, and Edward Morris and Cleveland Clinic Heart Institute - Dr. Jacob Sroubeck. To honor Seth donations can be made in his name to the following: University of Arizona science scholarships, Public Broadcasting (NPR or PBS), or Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Heart Research). Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151

Seth Isaac Gutman

October 4, 1946 - November 21, 2025