Deceased November 20, 2015
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In Memory
Pete Jones, 84, whose Amherst years were interrupted by military service, died on Nov. 20, 2015. Pete lived in Petoskey, Mich., at the time of his death.
Pete left Amherst to join the Air Force after three semesters with the class of 1953. After an honorable discharge, he returned to Amherst in fall 1954 and graduated in 1956.
On campus, Pete was a member of Theta Delta Chi and played on the freshman tennis team.
Pete was born in New York City and grew up in Summit, N.J. He was an honors graduate of the Pingry School of Basking Ridge, N.J., where he was senior class president and captain of the tennis team.
His son David wrote that Pete’s “schooling and aptitude in the classroom enabled him to rise through the ranks of such corporations as Exxon (Standard Oil) and RCA, where he was an executive vice president for sales.”
Pete left RCA for the real estate industry, selling residential properties in Hilton Head, S.C.; California; and Alabama. He retired to Petoskey to be near David and his wife and daughters.
David wrote, “Pete was a gentle giant of a man, standing 6 feet, 4 inches, and possessing a kind and warm personality to all who knew him. He will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather and friend.”
George Gates ’53