Eastern Michigan University E-Club Hall of Famer Dr. Jay H. Jones passed away Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, at the age of 59. Jones, who was inducted into the E-Club Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992, was an outstanding swimmer for Eastern from 1979-83.
Son of longtime EMU Men's Swimming Head Coach Mike Jones, Jones was a four-time Mid-American Conference swimming champion in the 200-yard butterfly. He also won a MAC individual title in the 200-yard individual medley and at one time he was in the top 10 fastest swimmers in the United States for the 200 meter butterfly. Jones swam on four winning MAC relay teams and was captain of the 1982-83 team. Named MAC Swimmer of the Year in 1982-83, he helped lead Eastern to four MAC team titles.
Born Aug. 7, 1961 in Detroit, Jones grew up in Ypsilanti and Milan alongside his brother Kyle. After graduating from EMU, Jay attended Wayne State University for medical school. He graduated from medical school in 1987, then residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 1991.Â
Jones moved to Traverse City where he practiced medicine for the rest of his life, first in group practice and then in a private practice. He was also an adjunct professor at Michigan State University. Jones ended his career back in a group practice at the Munson Pain Clinic before he retired in September of 2019.
Jones leaves behind his beloved wife, Jill Fenton-Jones, children Emily (Andy) Petran and Carter (Laura) Jones, granddaughter Tessa Jones (born July 2020), brother Kyle (Merri Lee) Jones, Mother-in- law Victoria Fenton, brothers-in-law Jim (Jane) Fenton, and Scott (Nora Webber) Fenton, nephews Justin (Madison) Fenton and Max Fenton, and nieces Sonja Fenton, Aubrey Fenton, Collette Fenton, Clara Jones, and Meg Jones, as well as many friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother Judy, father Mike, and father-in-law Jim.
