Beloved and respected North Reading educator
Published May 2, 2019
NORTH READING — Charles Edward Jones, a true “man for all seasons,” left this earth as he lived on it, gently, with dignity and grace on April 30, 2019 at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, a place of caring and love.
The man who would become the infamous “Mr. Jones” was born four score years ago in Cambridge on January 3, 1939, to Robert William and Mary Kathryn (Shea) Jones. After their dad’s early death when Charlie was 10 months old, he and his brother, Robert Arthur Jones, became partners in many adventures: building trains in their apartments, teaching their mom to paddle a somewhat seaworthy raft that they built, “helping” her at her office at the Shawmut Bank on Saturdays and sharing a great love of cars. He admired his brother greatly.
Charlie graduated from Salem State College; at first his goal was to become a teacher in order to fund his law school education. Though he passed the bar and began his law practice with two men who became his dear friends and mentors, he got hooked on teaching. Imagine how many ballparks we could fill with those who are grateful he made that decision. For 38 years he was a history teacher for whose classroom students longed—perhaps a bit fearfully—to find a seat. It wasn’t long before Mr. Jones was invited to join the North Reading Public School administration and served as both principal and vice principal of the North Reading Junior High/Middle School while continuing to teach one history class.
Students who found themselves on “the bench” at this school waited with trepidation to plead their cases to the most stern, fair and kind judge ever known to assign detention. Many of these folks became allies of Mr. Jones in the running of that tight ship and often relied on him to help them through problems small and large.
Mr. Jones may best be remembered by the North Reading community as that crazy guy running kids all over the country. Some thought this too great a risk but he gently informed them, “Well, you could stay home.” How did he do it? He just did. A consummate planner who appeared not to be planning at all, he wove his lessons of history, community building, and hard work into four-to-six-week camping adventures every summer, leading students and their families into the best memories of their lives. He began this one-of-a-kind program in 1977, and just prior to the beginning of his treatment for a blood cancer called MDS, students from that trip held a reunion and invited Mr. Jones. Forty years later.
Surviving him is his wife of not long enough, Claudia, and her three loving daughters, Kaitlyn M. Crocker, Courtney N. Crocker, Jenna C. Crocker, all of Malden; nieces Sarah Jones and her companion, Greg Sutton, of Oakland, Calif.; Leah Jones and Kwadwo Kwaa of Beverly; and great-nieces Delphine and Juliana Kwaa who, so beloved by their Uncle Charlie, were just beginning the lessons of the Jones Way. Relatives on both the Shea and Jones sides and extended family alike were so loved by him, and Charlie cherished time spent with them all, whether in New England or California.
His relationships were deep, everlasting, and included new friendships forged during his many hospitalizations at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Charlie’s clinical team became family in that home away from home.
Charlie’s funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Star of the Sea, Cabot Street, Beverly on Monday, May 6 at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visitation will be at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly on Sunday, May 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. Burial in Central Cemetery, Beverly.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Charles E. Jones and in honor of Dr. Weinstock may be made to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Dr. Avigan Research Fund at www.bidmc.org/giving or by check made payable to “Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center” with “Charles E. Jones/ Dr. Avigan Research Fund” on the memo line and mailed to: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Office of Development, 330 Brookline Ave – OV, Boston, MA 02215 or the North Reading Public Schools in support of the Charles E. Jones Educator Excellence Award, C/O Jon C. Bernard, Superintendent, North Reading Public Schools, 189 Park Street, North Reading, MA 01864. An annual award will be presented to an educator in the North Reading Public Schools who is nominated for dedication to students within and beyond the classroom and is a representative of the values and ideals displayed by Charles E. Jones.
Information, directions, and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.
