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in Division 234 Ross Jones dead at 59 By Sherry Halbrook PEF has lost a distinctive voice with the death of Ross Jones, an activist for the union throughout its existence at the former state Department of Social Services (DSS) in Albany. Jones was 59 when he died December 30, 2000 following a long battle with the complications of diabetes. He is survived by his wife, his mother, two sons, a daughter, a daughter- in-law, and two brothers and a sister. Jones served at various times on the PEF Executive Board and as PEF co-chair of the Joint Labor-Management Committee at DSS where he was a supervisor of contracts and funding for nursing homes. When DSS was broken up, Jones was transferred to the state Health Department. Jones’ record of service also included Division 234 assistant council leader, steward and chair of the grievance committee, and he was a member of the central labor councils of both Troy and Albany. “Ross spent decades as a PEF activist in Region 8 and was respected by his fellow union members and management, alike,” says PEF Executive Board Member Paul Rickard. “Ross’ sense of humor and ability to turn a phrase could amuse and sting at the same time. We in PEF, Division 234 will miss him sorely.” Roy Bailey, who recently retired from state service, was one of those who worked closely with Jones. “Ross had so many interests — he had been a combat photographer in Vietnam; he owned and operated Federal Bureau Antiques and he was a nationally recognized expert on small Shaker articles. He was writing a book on the Shakers,” Bailey says. “Ross also had a twisted Irish sense of humor, and because of his wealth of experiences in all of the many things he did, he always had a story or anecdote for every occasion,” Bailey recalls. In fact, one Jones admirer brought to his memorial service a list of 43 different “Jonesisms” or “Jones’ Laws” as they were also known among his friends and co-workers. These include such pithy aphorisms as: “Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed;” and “Let’s not do dumb. We’ve already done that.” Victor Batorsky is also a former council leader of Division 234, and he knew and worked closely with Jones for nearly 30 years. He wrote the poem below in memory of his friend. On A Departing Friend (in memory of Ross Jones) Your footsteps in the snow remember the weight of you As the snow that swirls about and fills in your presence departing With the heavy inner sense of you poignant in my mind’s eye; What we exchanged is present in the air now, what we have. So different are we, my friend, you and I almost opposites, Like complementary gears in an old well-worn machine; What makes a team — the difference in sameness of purpose And no part is unessential, none without purpose. The long pause of sight I take as you depart Flows through me like a river reverberating With the stresses and fabrications we have woven In the present to spill the woolen carpet of tomorrow That warms our steps and wraps our souls Together in the remembrances of achievement Knowing we have given together some joy To a seemingly sad world we together love to loath. Oh we are schemers and plotters of politic things Wefting in our would-be’s, not what should have been But rather the existential quintessential of us. How bumptious we are in our brash plots and conspiracies! We are not these fabrications of actions and society, But, in the present, the measured meter of our living. Finally, after all, there is here a contentment in the end For we find we have been left with love after the departing of a friend. — By Victor Batorsky |