Stanley B Jones

Stanley B Jones, 78, died Dec. 23, 2016, at home of natural causes.

Stan was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the third son of Arthur and Lillian Jones, and raised in Catonsville, Maryland. He received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and did further studies in philosophy and religion at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut.

Stan began his career working for the federal government in Washington, D.C., starting as a management intern at the National Institutes of Health before moving on to other agencies. He later was hired as a legislative aide to the late U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, D-MA, and eventually became staff director of the Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee’s Health Subcommittee.

During his years on Capitol Hill, Stan developed his interest and expertise in health policy which became the focus of his career. He fought for the establishment of community health centers and improvements to health care including mental health. Stan was sought after for his knowledge of health insurance and efforts to expand coverage. He worked at the Institute of Medicine (later becoming a member), was Vice President for Washington Representation of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and co-founded Health Policy Alternatives, a health policy consulting firm. He also helped form and co-directed the Health Insurance Reform Project, a policy think tank at The George Washington University. He served on many advisory panels and authored numerous papers on policy issues.

During these years, his free time was spent backpacking and canoeing in the Canadian wilderness with his two sons and two daughters, as well as his former wife, Linda. He also enjoyed sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.

Through his work, he met Judy Miller, his “miraculous Judy,” who also worked in health policy. They married in 1981, enjoyed supporting each other’s careers and at times worked as a team.

Weekend trips away from Washington formed a love for Shepherdstown and in 1986, they purchased a weekend house which later became their permanent home. In 2004, they built a new home off Shepherd Grade in Shepherdstown.

In 1991, Stan took on a second career with a return to his earlier divinity studies. Ordained a priest by the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia in 1992, he served as associate rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shepherdstown for more than a decade before retiring a second time.

Stan and Judy, along with The Rev. Dr. GT Schramm, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, helped establish Good Shepherd Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (GSIVC). The first such program of its kind in WV, GSIVC enables volunteers to assist older, frail or disabled residents to remain in their homes. Stan was greatly pleased that Good Shepherd recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Stan contributed to the work of other local civic organizations and was a member of the Shepherdstown Rotary Club. He was named a “Paul Harris Fellow” for his substantial contributions to the community and his commitment to “service above self,” the Rotary motto.

His second retirement gave Stan time to pursue long-held interests in astronomy, philosophy and music and to build an impressive model train layout in his basement. An avid reader, he enjoyed various book clubs and discussion groups and especially liked spending time with his family. In more recent years, Stan developed a passion for creating art. Stan experimented with different styles and mediums, including pastels, colored pencils, acrylics, and watercolors. He took particular delight in doing portraits. In addition to taking individual art lessons or group classes, he was part of an art criticism group that met twice monthly to discuss art and critique each other’s work.

Summers found Stan and Judy at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. There, they enjoyed week-long visits from each of his four children and their families. Times together, whether listening to music and lectures or sharing other activities of the day, were a high point of the year – moments the children and grandchildren will always cherish.

At age 6, Stan survived polio and had to learn to walk again. Some 40 years after, the late effects of polio began limiting his ability to walk. He overcame that with a small fleet of wheelchairs, standard and motorized, and his strong desire to keep moving and doing. A ready smile, keen sense of humor and infectious laugh were his trademarks.

Stan is survived by his wife, Judy; four children, Andy, Jeff, Lisa and Julia and their spouses, Suzanne, Beth, Bill and Scot; eight grandchildren, Grace, Daniel, Claire, Jacob, Roland, Cole, Zachary and Naomi; his brothers Art and Ben, and their families; and Judy’s sister and brother Louise and Alan, and their families.

The family will hold a memorial service at Trinity Episcopal Church, in Shepherdstown, on Jan. 7 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Good Shepherd Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, P.O. Box 1882, Shepherdstown, WV, 25443.