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Obituary of Reginald L. Jones, Jr.
Reginald L. Jones, Jr., a Darien resident since 1960, died at the age of 82 on Thursday, Sept. 24 at Stamford Hospital. Born in 1926 in New York City, he was the son of the late Reginald L. Jones, Sr. and Marion Babcock Jones.
After spending his early childhood years in Summit, NJ, Mr. Jones graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1944 and Princeton University in 1948. He served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1953 during the Korean War. He then moved to Manhattan to begin a career with Arthur Andersen & Co., gaining his CPA and a master's degree in accounting from Columbia University in 1955.
Over 30 years with Arthur Andersen, Mr. Jones rose from auditor to managing partner of the NY Metropolitan Office of Andersen Consulting before retiring in 1984. He distinguished himself most notably in the pivotal role he played for the US Treasury Department in 1975 devising financial controls that enabled New York City to access federal assistance and avoid bankruptcy. He co-authored two books on budgeting and financial controls.
In 1976, Mr. Jones began what became a second career as a public servant to Darien and the State of Connecticut. He served Co-Chair of the local PTA, as Chairman of the Darien School Redistricting Commission and for eight years as Member and Vice-Chairman of the Darien Board of Education. Beginning in 1988, he was elected to three terms as Darien's State Representative in Hartford, where he played his most prominent role as ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee. Known for his bi-partisanship and rated among the top 10 legislators by Connecticut Magazine, he also was named by the Democratic Leadership as Vice-Chairman of the Commission to Effect Government Reorganization.
Following his service in the State Legislature, Mr. Jones was appointed Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management by Gov. John Rowland, where he was responsible for preparing the budget and for overall supervision of the State's finances. He retired from his career in Hartford in 1997. During his later years, Mr. Jones' passion for education led him to institute a mentoring-tutoring program to combat high numbers of dropouts in Connecticut's inner city schools.
Mr. Jones was a long-time member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Darien, serving as Vestry Member, Senior Warden, and Head of Stewardship. He was a strong advocate for families and young people, chairing the Darien Young Life Committee, supporting the Boy Scouts, and leading "Preparing for Adolescence" workshops with his wife, Judy. Their faith guided all aspects of their lives and inspired many around them.
Mr. Jones was a member of The Tokeneke Club. He loved sports and especially enjoyed the competition and fellowship while playing tennis and golf with friends and family. As an avid supporter of his sons' sports teams, he rarely missed a game and quickly became known for his booming voice cheering them on from the sidelines.
Mr. Jones is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judy Marshall Jones, four sons, and twelve grandchildren Reginald L. Jones, III, his wife Sarah, and their children Rebecca, Reg IV, William, and Sam of Old Greenwich, CT; Ross M. Jones, his wife Emily, and their children Erik, Luke, and Lexi of Needham, MA; Andrew S. Jones, his wife Christine, and their children Nate, Darcy, and Evan of Falls Church, VA; and Gordon S. Jones, his wife Karen, and their children Zach and Topher of Needham, MA.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9 at Noroton Presbyterian Church, 2011 Post Road, in Darien. A private family interment was held at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul's Church, 471 Mansfield Ave., Darien, CT 06820, the Luis Palau Association, P.O. Box 50, Portland, OR 97207, or the Stamford Hospital, 1351 Washington Blvd., Suite 202, Stamford, CT 06902.
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Edward Lawrence Funeral Home
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Darien, CT
USA 06820
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