Charles, who was affectionately known to everyone as Bones for his tall lean appearance, passed away on April 22, 2021 at age 72 after an incredibly courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife, children, and sister. He is remembered as a gentleman who was always kind, nice, and generous. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia on July 24, 1948 to Charles Edward Jones Sr. and Marion Jean Choice Jones; he was the oldest of three children.
The family settled in Peekskill, NY after a brief stay in Chicago. Bones attended Peekskill public schools, it was here where he discovered his life’s first two passions; basketball and golf. He excelled in basketball and developed his skill at the infamous Park Street School - a mecca for ambitious young players. At Peekskill High School he was a star member of one of that High School’s most storied basketball teams while simultaneously playing the saxophone in the Peekskill High marching band. Upon graduation in 1966 he received a basketball scholarship to Oneonta State College in Oneonta, NY.
On the court at Oneonta, Bones was a prolific shooter, scorer, rebounder and defensive player. He developed many lifelong friendships from basketball, including his teammate Bryan Hassett. Their 1966-67 Men’s Basketball team is even in the Oneonta Hall of Fame. His other early passion, golf, was first formed when Bones and his friends would hitchhike to local golf courses to caddy. As a caddy, he would develop his keen appreciation for the game which propelled him to play competitively at Oneonta as a dual sport athlete. Upon his entrance in 1966 it was very rare for black men to play golf, in fact there were only three African American students at Oneonta. Fittingly, in 2005 he became the first African American to be featured on the cover of Suburban Golf Magazine. Bones’ peaceful, gentle, and steady character guided him through his collegiate years; he was one of the founding members of ITK, a fraternity that continues to meet and share fellowship to this day. Bones graduated from SUNY Oneonta in 1970 earning a Bachelor of Science in history.
In 1972 Bones started the job which would become his career, a Recreational Therapist at Letchworth Village Developmental Center in Rockland County. It was the beginning a 49-year professional career where he eventually became the Chief Recreational Therapist passionately supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 1973 he met Letchworth’s newest employee, Suzanne Schneider. Bones and Sue soon began a love affair that characterized their lifelong partnership until his passing. Sue started Camp Kanawauke at Harriman State Park 36 years ago. It continued under Bones’ leadership and still exists in Harriman Park to this day. Sue shared Bones’ love of music playing the piano as Bones played the saxophone. Bones and Sue’s musicianship entertained the residents of Letchworth Village, lightened the lives of developmentally disabled people throughout New York State, and was used to generate funds to support their needs. Bones also began a Scout program (Boys & Girls) for developmentally disabled residents at Letchworth.
During his career at Letchworth Bones founded another one of his life’s passions, Rockland County Special Olympics. His work with Special Olympics would add to his legacy of leadership and volunteerism that touched thousands of lives over the years, all across New York State. Connected to his affinity for golf, he advocated for adding the sport of Golf at the National level. He helped to coordinate the first national tournament at PGA National in Port St. Lucie, FL. He received numerous awards, recognitions and honors for his volunteerism with Special Olympics including the Dorothy Buehring Phillips Award, named after the founder of New York State Special Olympics - the highest honor given to a volunteer. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York State Special Olympics as well as the
Hudson Valley Region and in 2019, the Rockland County Special Olympics Golf Tournament was renamed in Bones’ honor as the Bones Jones Rockland Golf Classic, a tournament which he started over 35 years ago to benefit the athletes in the county. At the heart of Bones’ dedication to Special Olympics was his boundless belief in the value of sports training and athletic competition can have for those among us who may be differently abled. Add to all this, he was a gentleman who dedicated his entire adult life to improving the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities and to bring greater acceptance for them in our society.
Bones & Sue were married on April 13, 1980 and made their home in Nanuet, NY. Their children, Kyla Jenine, born August 1982, and Charles III (CJ), born November 1984, brought extraordinary fullness and pride to their lives. They raised them with values that embraced volunteerism, hard work, and kindness. Bones raised both kids with golf clubs in their hands and as a result, both children competed for the Nanuet High School Varsity Boy’s Golf Team starting in 8th grade. He would later coach golf at Nanuet High School for 18 years, earning “Coach of the Year” in 2007. Bones beamed with pride in Kyla & CJ’s accomplishments both receiving college golf scholarships. Perhaps his greatest joy (and frustration!) was caddying for Kyla when she played professional golf on the Futures Tour.
In the early 70’s, Bones was introduced to yet another life’s passion, sailing, by his lifelong friend Ted Coniglio. He purchased his first boat and spent the next 50 years sailing the Long Island Sound and Hudson River. Kyla and CJ were also raised to sail culminating in their dream family vacation being realized in 2000 where the four of them sailed the British Virgin Islands for ten days.
In addition to basketball, golf, sailing and Special Olympics, he had many other interests that were undoubtedly inherited from his father, an engineer. He spent hours building, and playing with, radio controlled cars, boats, airplanes and rockets. He bridged his understanding of science and love for golf and started a custom club making business that he ran out of his home in Nanuet, “CJ’s Customs Clubs”.
Bones will always be described by people as gentle, kind, graceful, generous, and a terrific friend. You could always find Bones at Phillip J. Rotella Golf Course where he served as the President for over 20 years. He ran numerous golf leagues, tournaments, and outings right up until his passing. His legacy will continue to resonate through the thousands of athletes, coaches, and families he has worked with, the friendships he forged, and his love for the game of golf.
He is survived by his wife Suzanne; daughter Kyla & husband Michael Basso; son Charles III & wife Jessica Jones; grandchildren Carter & Charlie; sister Diana Jones Ritter & husband Larry; brother & sister-in-law, Dr. Steven & Robyn Schneider; a host of loving nieces and nephews; and special lifelong friends Bryan Hassett, Ted Coniglio, Bruce Morrison, Ray Blue & Gilbert Thomas. He was predeceased by; his parents Charles and Marion Jones; Sue’s parents, Bernard & Gertrude Schneider; and his sister Jennie Jones.
Viewing will be Wed. Apr. 28 at Higgins Funeral Home, 113 Lake Road East, Congers, NY, 10920 from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Due to Covid-restrictions, private funeral services will be Apr. 29 and streamed live at 10:00 am for public viewing. Friends can view live-streamed homegoing services on the Facebook Page of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Rockland on Thursday, April 29 at 10am.
In lieu of flowers the family will be grateful for donations in his memory via checks to “Rockland County Special Olympics” and mailed to c/o Special Olympics NY Hudson Valley Region, 1207 Route 9, Suite 1C, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Please indicate “Bones” in the memo. Also electronically via this link: Special Olympics -Donation - please indicate “Bones” on the info line.
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