A Celebration Of The Life Of Ron Jones
by Doug La Rocque
When Coach Ron Jones passed away in his sleep in April of this year, there was a pall of grief and disbelief that hung over the Hoosick Falls Central School (HFCS), as well as the Village and Town, for days if not weeks. The winningest football coach in the school’s history was also a husband, father, friend, mentor and colleague to so many. One of those who Coach Jones’ death touched the most was Rob Allen, High School Music instructor and Mayor of Hoosick Falls. So much so that Mayor Allen came up with the idea to create a video tribute to his friend, which was shown on the big screen at Hathaway’s Twin Drive-In on Sunday evening, August 30.
The event, which was attended by as many people as COVID-19 regulations would allow, opened with a collage of pictures of the coach, from his younger days as a student at HFCS through his return in 1996 as coach and teacher. It also included a moving tribute from coaches and athletes from schools around the Capital Region, including a piece where a football was thrown to a student at one school and through the magic of video, then thrown to another student at yet another school. Mayor Allen said the students themselves put this together, all within three days of Coach Jones’ passing.
The tribute also included comments and testimonials from his colleagues and friends as to the kind, warm-hearted mentor and pillar of support he had become to his family and his community.
The Eastwick Press spoke with the Mayor and asked him what drove him to create such a moving memorial. He told us, “devastation.” Not only because he had lost one of his best friends, but also because of the sense of loss that was being felt at the school, by the students and the entire community. He also said he was touched by the sorrow expressed by many, that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, his family and the community were unable to honor the coach in a fitting way.
The Mayor, of course, checked with Coach Jones’ family about the project, and said he found them very supportive and that they felt the video really captured the essence of who Ron Jones was.
There was also a great deal of thanks to Duane Greenawalt, the owner of Hathaway’s Drive-In, who donated his facility and time, and the help of his technical staff to make the whole tribute come together. Just like one of the coach’s well-designed plays.