Robert Owen Jones

Born in Boston in 1925, Bob grew up in Rockville Center on Long Island. He quickly became the ringleader of the neighborhood boys and a star football and basketball player. His love of sports remained a lifetime passion.

He went off to Dartmouth College in 1942. But the war loomed and at 17, a consummate patriot, he left college to enlist. Direct from training, his unit was marched into the Ardennes Forest and the arduous Battle of the Bulge. He served with courage and distinction and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Following the war, and because of it, Bob committed his life to working for peace. He believed in the goodness of people and our common humanity. He studied political science, and then taught at St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia. But he was eager to bridge borders and facilitate cross-cultural understanding on an international level. Therefore, in 1964 Bob joined the US Foreign Service, packed up his loving wife Rosemary and his five children, and headed off to Lahore, Pakistan. He served as the Cultural Attache Officer at the American Consulate in Lahore organizing art exhibits, classes in English, seminars in political science and governance. Bob was famous for his sports exchanges--he was said to believe in peace through exhaustion--bringing US athletes and coaches overseas to work with local youth. For the next 30 years, he served in Asia and Africa, working tirelessly to promote peace and understanding around the globe.

After retirement from the Foreign Service, he devoted his time to his community. He volunteered at soup kitchens. He worked with immigrants, teaching English as a second language. He coached youth basketball, teaching the next generation the intricacies of the gooseneck jump shot and working to pass on the values and ethics so important for a successful life.

He was a man of great faith. He loved his neighbor in every country he called home, once literally taking the coat off his back for a stranger on the street. He taught those around him the power of prayer and devotion. His charisma and sincerity enabled him to brightly reflect God’s love into the lives of everyone he met.

Bob was a gallant, charming, handsome man. He was stopped once on a NYC sidewalk and asked to come to Hollywood for a screen test. He adored his wife Rosemary, their 5 children and spouses, their 14 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He was known for terrible knock-knock jokes, seersucker suits, rootbeer floats, poetry, horseshoes, sketching. He had a wicked tennis drop shot and a beautiful singing voice. His love of books was legendary and he had a story and message about every book in his library.

See you on the other side Bob. God speed.