John D. (Jack) Jones II '69

John D. (Jack) Jones II '69 passed away peacefully at home on June 12, surrounded by his wife and children.

A dedicated family man, he was also an accomplished businessman and philanthropist who was widely respected by those who knew him both personally and professionally. He was described as generous, wise and tirelessly supportive of his family, friends and larger community.

Jones was born on Aug. 6, 1947, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to John L. Jones ("Pop") and Helen Treslar. He was the eldest of four children as the family grew to include brothers Leslie and Morgan and sister Peggy. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, until 1964, when the family moved west and settled in Thousand Oaks, California.

Jones attended UCLA, where he earned a degree in mathematics, and followed his father into the aerospace industry, working as an engineer for Garrett AiResearch. He also managed a small apartment building in Westwood while attending UCLA, which laid the groundwork for a prosperous and rewarding career in real estate that spanned over 50 years. In late 1971, Jones and his father went into real estate full time and founded John L. Jones & Sons Inc. A few years later they took a huge risk by mortgaging their homes and purchasing the opportunity of a lifetime. Jones and his parents, with a number of trusting investors, purchased an apartment building in Los Angeles that was 10 times the size of any other building they owned. It was a make-or-break moment in Jones' life and, fortunately for him and his family, it paid off.

Jones was able to grow his business and attract investors because his mission was to buy in overlooked neighborhoods and constantly improve the buildings. He believed in treating people fairly and that trust and integrity were of utmost importance. He invested in neighborhoods around Los Angeles, including the Crenshaw corridor and Baldwin Hills, and was committed to giving residents a home where they could thrive and be treated reasonably.

In 1971, Jones married his first wife, Marcia. His son John was born in 1974, followed by his daughter Jennifer in 1977. Jones was a devoted father and loved taking his family on adventures around the world. When his children were young, he coached their little league and soccer teams. As they got older, he enjoyed taking Jennifer to rock concerts throughout her middle school years, hockey games in high school and basketball games on his visits to her while she attended college. Jones shared his love of golf with John, and they traveled to Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters golf tournament on multiple occasions.

In 1994, Jones established a new real estate company, Greystone Management Group, and continued to add to his portfolio of buildings. In 2002, John took over as President, allowing Jones to semi-retire and spend more time doing things he loved. In 2000, he married Cindy, and they traveled the world, enjoyed practicing yoga together and hosting dinner parties with friends and family.

In 2005, Jones became a doting grandpa to Sophia, who was followed by Trevor and Henry. Jones was a welcoming and kind father-in-law to John’s wife, Tara, and Jennifer’s, husband Joey.

In 2014, Jones founded the Jack and Cindy Jones Boys & Girls Club of Mar Vista Gardens. He was a hands-on benefactor of the club, acting as mentor and friend to countless young people in the years that followed. He was especially delighted to welcome groups of kids from the club to his home for summer pool parties, which he hosted frequently.

Jones maintained his sense of humor, described as "amazing and mischievous," through his final days. He loved a perfectly styled outfit, a delicious meal and, above all, the company of those he loved.

In lieu of flowers, Jones wished for donations to the causes that meant the most to him, the Boys and Girls Club of Mar Vista Gardens or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.