February 23, 2007
IN MEMORIAM
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Richard Jones: bighearted lover of life |
Last week a full house crowded into a dining room at Housing Works' West 13th St. health care center to mourn the passing of one of our first clients, the beloved Richard Jones. Jones died at age 54 on February 14. "I often used him as an example of what decent affordable housing and healthcare does for somebody," says Linney Smith, Housing Works senior vice president for prevention and services. "He loved life, he loved to fish, he even drove while he was in a wheelchair."
Until he found Housing Works in 1994, Jones had been homeless. He was the twelfth client Housing Works was able to house in its Bronx scatter-site apartments and the first to join its AIDS Adult Day Health Care Program.
Jones arrived at Housing Works wheelchair-bound, but with medication and his characteristic optimism he eventually overcame his AIDS-related neuropathy and was able to walk shortly after becoming a client for periods of time. In 1995 he initiated the art therapy program at 13th Street, where he used a hammer and nails to create and teach string art.
Jones was also active in Housing Works' theater project and served as master of ceremonies for our 10th anniversary celebration. Revered for his generosity, his colleagues eventually made him an honorary member of 13th Street's AIDS Adult Day Health Care Program community advisory board.
"Clients called him Uncle."
Smith remembers Jones' big-heartedness fondly. Though, he was in recovery for over 17 years, Jones was a true harm reductionist who embraced people struggling with their own drug use. Smith tells of Charles Watson, a childhood friend of Jones who was still on the street and using drugs after Jones had been housed in the Bronx. Jones saw to it that his friend received the same services he had. "He was something special to everyone at 13th Street. Clients called him 'Uncle,'" Smith says.
Jones is survived by his mother Thelma, sisters Mary, Cynthia and Phyllis; brothers Lawrence, Alvin and Robert; daughters, Shelley, Keyetta and Tanja; and grandson Zaire. Jones' daughters lived with him in his Bronx apartment, which was filled with his string art. Shelley and Keyetta graduated from Housing Works' job training program and went on to become employees. Jones was thrilled to live to see the birth of Keyetta's son Zaire, 10, with whom he was close.
Jones once gave Smith a poem, laminated onto an artfully carved piece of wood. Its title was "I Said a Prayer for You Today." Today we all say a prayer for Richard Jones.