Last year, Rhonda Jurgel of Joliet held her husband's wake at Plainfield High School – Central Campus.
Rhonda's husband Ed Jones, who’d died on October 15, 2019 after a short battle with cancer at the age of 87, had taught instrumental and choral music at District 202 in Plainfield for many years.
The Naperville Glee Club (Ed was a member) sang at the wake as did the PHSCC choir. The PHSCC band performed, too, Rhonda said.
“We had performances going on all day,” Rhonda said. “We had different small groups that came from his pops band and got together and did little ensembles. He would have been so happy...all music was fun for him."
Ed also played music, sang in numerous choral groups, loved attending Chicago Symphony Concerts and enjoyed listening to music at home. Rhonda said Ed owned close to 500 record albums and that Ed was "classical all the way."
The PHSCC band boosters is now raising money to renovate its band library and dedicate it to Ed, according to Chris Vanderwall, director of bands at PHSCC. As of Sunday afternoon $7,750 of the $20,000 goal had been raised.
“We had been trying to think of the right way to carry on his name and legacy and keep it attached to the program,” Chris said. “We looked at summer camp scholarships and we looked at historic displays about the program and its history. Nothing clicked until this…it’s something that can be specifically about him.”
Rhonda spurred the library idea when she donated 600 pieces of Ed’s music to the library, “a tremendous addition to our library,” Chris said.
The band library already had more than 2,000 pieces of music. The plan is to raise the money by the end of 2020 and then replace the old filing cabinets with new Wenger library filing systems.
At that point, PHSCC will be called the Edward F. Jones Band Library. The library will include a plaque with Ed’s photo and description of his contributions to music as a while, not just to District 202. Organizers may plan a dedication concert, too.
Although Chris never had Ed as a teacher, he and Ed had many conversations about music and teaching standards over the years, he said.
“I learned that I was on the right track, that having high standards for my students and expecting them to achieve excellence as not only OK, but it was the right way to do things,” Chris said. “Even if students don’t achieve the level you set out for them, they’d come pretty close and they’d still do great things."
Philip Spencer, professor of music and director of choral and vocal music at Joliet Junior College, said Ed was also a lifelong learner. Ed took voice lessons from Phil for 20 years and participated in the JJC Chorale and the JJC Chamber Singers.
“He always thought there was something more he could learn about the voice and about singing,” Phil said. “He had a constant curiosity about life and he just felt music education was so important.”
Phil said Ed’s nickname was “the voice of God." Ed’s voice never lost any of its beautiful, clear and artistic qualities, he added.
“He had great breath control and it’s because he played trombone all those years,” Phil said. “He could sustain a phrase in breath like no young person could.”
Ed also participated in the annual JJC Madrigal dinner, Phil said. He’d put on full Renaissance garb, dutifully rehearse his lines and sing solos.
“And that was on top of his normal choral work,” Phil said.
Phi said Ed often came 30 to 45 minutes early so they could sit in the music lounge and discuss concerts they’d attended and the books they’d read on music.
“He rarely missed a lesson; he rarely missed a choir rehearsal,” Phil said. “He just wouldn’t let anything stop him until he was too ill to come to the campus."
Ed was always open to new choral pieces, “cared tremendously about detail," kept his own pieces of music impeccably organized and was not afraid to raise his hand and ask a question during lessons or rehearsals, Phil said.
“Ed was a one-of-a-kind person,” Phil said. “He had a majestic, formal quality about him. It took awhile to get to know him; he had a good deal of confidence. But once you got to know him, he was a warm individual and I always admired his dedication.”
Phil said Ed’s discipline showed in the way he cared for himself. He ate well, exercised regularly and dressed impeccably. Ed never seemed to change and it seemed he might live forever, Phil said.
"That's why it was so hard to see this cancer defeat him in the end," Phil said.
To donate toward the Renovation and dedication of the Edward F. Jones Band Library at Plainfield High School - Central Campus, visit pchsband.org.
According to his obituary, Ed Jones:
• Served in the Army from 1950 to1953 and performed with Sixth Army Band in San Francisco, California.
• Was the graduate assistant and assistant conductor of bands at Illinois State University, where he received both Bachelor of Education and Master of Education degrees (instrumental major, choral minor).
• Beginning in 1957, Ed taught instrumental and choral music in the Plainfield school system. He taught at all levels, including high school theory and harmony.
• Served as the division chairperson for fine arts at Plainfield High School and coordinator of fine arts for grades K-6. He retired in 1994.
• Was band director at Chaney Monge School in Crest Hill for seven years following his retirement.
• Taught band and general music at St. Mary Immaculate Parish School in Plainfield. He retired in 2006.
• Had numerous conducting assignments and guest appearances, including summer sessions at the University of Illinois, Eastern Illinois University and Western Illinois University. He also served as clinician and adjudicator in both instrumental and choral areas.
• Sang with the Donald Armstrong Choral Ensemble, the Joliet Chamber Choir, the New Classic Singers, and had most recently sung with the Ecclesiastical Choral Society, the Naperville Men’s Glee Club and the Joliet Junior College Chorale and Chamber Singers.
• Studied with Bruce Hall at Northwestern University.
• Directed the Plainfield Methodist church choir for 29 years.
• Conducted the Joliet Bicentennial Park “Pops” Band in Joliet for 17 years, retiring in 2017.
• Served as district chairperson and secretary-treasurer for the Illinois Grade School Music Association for 35 years. He retired June 30, 2019.
• Was president of the Illinois Music Educators Association from 1971 to 1973.
• Was state chairman of the American School Band Directors Association fr0m 1969 to 1970 and 1980 to 1984.
• Was past president and past treasurer of the Mid-America Competing Band Directors Association.