William H. Jones

William (Bill) H. Jones died on April 6 in Cleveland of complications from heart disease. He was 87. As one of three boys named Thomas (Tom), Richard (Dick), and William Harry, Jones came by his sense of humor and sunny outlook naturally. He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan (Dorfman) Jones; partner, Reverend Gary A. Mitchener; father, Vernon Jones; mother, Grace Jones; and brothers, Tom and Richard Jones.

Jones was born in Baltimore in 1936 and grew up in Westminster, MD. He attended Syracuse University, where he majored in journalism and wrote for and edited The Daily Orange. He went on to receive a Master’s degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse. After graduating in1959, he married Susan Dorfman, a fellow journalism student, and the couple moved to Brisbane, Australia, where Jones continued his studies as a Fulbright Scholar.

After his Fulbright, the Joneses returned to the United States and Jones took a job with the New York Times News Service. In 1967, he joined the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Service. Two years later, he became deputy financial editor of The Post. In that position, Jones managed the newspaper’s coverage of local business news, wrote a column on area economic affairs, and, in 1980, oversaw the launch of the weekly “Washington Business” section, one of the first newspaper sections devoted to local business coverage.

While at The Post, Jones earned a reputation for mentoring young reporters. Robert Samuelson, who joined the newspaper in 1969, recalled, “He led by example. What was most impressive—indeed astonishing—was his writing, which was fast and fluid.” 

In 1982, Jones left The Post to become director of corporate affairs for Potomac Electric Power Co. (Pepco), where he was responsible for advertising, media relations, employee communications, community relations, and educational services. His last position before retiring was at the District of Columbia General Hospital’s Corporation against Drug Abuse, , where he led its communications and outreach programs.  

Jones and his wife had three sons – Jeffrey, Eric, and Timothy – whom they raised in Washington, DC, and then Bethesda, MD. In 2003, the couple retired to Cleveland, OH, to be near their eldest son and his family. Jones is survived by Jeffrey (Mary Ellen) Jones of Cleveland; Eric (Mary Catherine) Jones of Shelburne, VT; and Timothy (Maryellen Hanley) Jones of Boston; as well as by five grandchildren:  Nate, Tim, Caroline, Josh, and Ben.

Jones and his partner, Gary, enjoyed many years together. In 2021, they formalized their domestic partnership in a ceremony at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Together, they walked 165 miles of the Camino de Santiago trail in 2014. Jones was an avid baseball fan; his first team was the Baltimore Orioles, and later in life he added allegiance to the Cleveland Guardians, whose games he enjoyed attending with his son Jeff. He was a lover of nearly all genres of music and attended numerous concerts, shows, and performances throughout his life with every generation of his family.  

Jones was a devoted reader and an ever-aspiring gardener. He followed the news of the day with fervor and curiosity and an infinite need to learn more. Jones was, above all, profoundly dedicated to the many members of his family.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10 AM on Monday, April 15, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Hts., OH. The family requests that donations in his memory be made to the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, 6705 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102 (lgbtcleveland.org).