Byron Jones Biography

Byron Jones

Beloved Teacher, Conductor, Baritone and Great Grandfather

May 13, 1925 – February 4, 2014 

To be born Welsh

Is to be born privileged.

Not with a silver spoon in your mouth,

But music in your blood

And poetry in your soul.

Byron Jones devoted his life to spreading his love of people and music as far and wide as possible. Born in the Rhondda Valley, Wales, the son of Ada and Oliver Jones, the family immigrated to the U.S. in 1927 and settled in Berkeley, CA. Father Oliver was a professional opera singer and radio entertainer and Mother Ada sang songs of the “old country” in a naturally beautiful soprano. Byron inherited his strict professional discipline from his mother and dearly loved his sisters, Mair and Gwenellen.  On his eighteenth birthday, Byron joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II aboard the troop transport ship, the USS Leonard Wood and was on the beach on Leyte in the Philippines as General MacArthur came ashore on his famous return. Assigned to the Coast Guard Band playing the cornet he found onboard ship, he toured the U.S. for the War Fund. After the war, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a Masters in Music and a Minor in French. He taught vocal music at Turlock High School, CA before being hired by Hugo Rinaldi to teach vocal music throughout the San Rafael City Schools, which he did for thirty-five years. At San Rafael High School, Byron also taught French and English and spent countless after-school hours rehearsing for the annual student musicals, such as “My Fair Lady” and “West Side Story.” The lives of thousands of kids were enriched by the example he set by living his commitment to the joy of music. Many former students chose music as a profession. Appreciative students presented him with a personalized license plate inspired by one of his expressions, “What a Guy!” In 2011, a plaque was added to the Wall of Fame at San Rafael High School honoring his exemplary teaching.

Byron was Music Director of the First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael for forty years. A consummate recital artist, he produced the annual Music Fund Concerts at the church for thirty years, featuring young artists and emerging composers. He was proud to have been a baritone soloist for Temple Rodef Shalom in San Rafael and for Temple Emmanuel in San Francisco for a total of 50 years. He earned laudable reviews for his performances in oratorios, at The Lamplighters and several California opera companies, which included a starring role in “Casey at the Bat” with the Boston Pops, conducted by Arthur Fielder. Over the thirteen years that he vacationed with his family every summer in Yosemite National Park, he sang on the stage at Camp Curry during the nightly Fire Fall from Glacier Point. Following his father’s lead, he joined the Masons and was a member of San Rafael’s Lodge No. 191. Words and languages fascinated Byron. He wrote playful and passionate poetry and composed choral and instrumental music. He particularly enjoyed learning greetings and words of gratitude in many languages.

After retiring from teaching, Byron joined the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitation District Non-Marching Band (The Sewer Band) and resumed playing his cornet. An avid sports fan he was thrilled to sing the National Anthem at Candlestick Park before the Giants and their fans in 1993. As a volunteer, Byron played the piano, sang and told stories at retirement and convalescent homes throughout Marin County such as Alma Via, Drake Terrace, Pine Ridge, Country Villa, Wind Chimes, Fifth Avenue, Golden Home, The Redwoods and his own retirement home, Nazareth House in San Rafael. He boasted a song list of over 100 songs he knew by heart and could play by ear.

Byron is survived by Jacqueline Thomas Jones of Larkspur, whom he married in 1952, and two children, Rebecca Olivia Jones of San Rafael and Byron Will Jones of Bend, Oregon. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Hilary Lewis Strocco of San Diego, Savanna Jones of Bend, Oregon, and Evan Jones of Salt Lake City, Utah; two great-grandchildren, Sterling and Scarlett Strocco; his sister, Gwenellen Pemberton of Rocklin; nieces Glenys Anderson of Chico, Deanne Willhoft of Antioch, Kari Nielsen of Grass Valley and nephews Phil Heuchert of Orland, and Richard Duvall of Forest Grove, Oregon, in addition to numerous members of the extended Thomas and Jones families throughout the U.S. and in Wales.

In lieu of flowers, a non-tax deductible donation may be sent to:

Byron Jones Memorial Music Scholarship Fund 14 Lynn Court, San Rafael, CA 94901.
Friends of Nazareth House, 245 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 94903
Friends of Marin County Schools Volunteers, P.O. Box 4925, San Rafael, CA 94913.