Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
DONALD JONES Obituary
DONALD H.
On Saturday, December 15, 2012, Donald H. Jones, age 75, passed away peacefully at his home with his family at his side. He is survived by Barbara, his loving wife of 53 years; his brother, Leland Jones (and his wife, Berenice); his sister, Beverly Taylor (and her husband, Ellwood) and his sister-in-law, DeAnn Jones; Don is also survived by his children, Tom (and his wife, Ellen) and their children, Donald (Tanner), Leland, Connor and Sydney, Amy Teele, and children, Dawn (Josh), Emily and Sam, and Autumn Katarincic (and her husband, Jay) and their children, Jack, Molly and Charlie; he is also survived by numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews, including Ali, Nathan, Hannah and Stephen. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Eugene and Jean A. Jones and his brothers, Jay and Barry. A 1955 graduate of Franklin Regional High School and a 1959 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Don was a nationally recognized entrepreneur and prolific inventor who was currently serving as Chairman of Draper Triangle Ventures. He founded four successful technology companies, Control Systems Research, Technology Recognition Co., International Cybernetics Corporation and IndustryNet. Don served as a board member of several public and private companies, including The Associated Group and Respironics, Inc., and mentor to numerous others. His unbridled passion for science, education and entrepreneurship was exhibited through his endowment of the Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, his long time board service at the Carnegie Science Center and his dedication to countless other organizations. Friends will be received at a Memorial Service to celebrate Don's wonderful life at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, on January 6, 2013 at 5 p.m. Remembrances may be sent to the Carnegie Science Center, One Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 or The Cleveland Clinic, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193. Arrangements by JOHN A. FREYVOGEL SONS, INC.
Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Mike Hutchinson
December 13, 2019
Can't believe it's been 9 years. Truly a great business man and good friend. Blessings to you and prayers for the family this day.
Cindy Darrah-Schmitt
January 6, 2013
Dear Barbara and family,
I just recieved a letter from Bev and I am so saddened to hear this news. Don and your entire family were always so kind and loving towards me. I will never forget him or any of you. I am truly sorry to hear this news.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
Michael Brunner
January 2, 2013
Jones Family,
Don was a client of mine, an instructor of mine, a mentor of mine, but more importantly he was a friend of mine! We will all miss his enduring support, ever positive attitude, and his inspiring friendship.
My thought and prayers are with you.
Michael Brunner
Cindy Jones
January 1, 2013
Barb and family,
I was very sorry to hear about Don. I was so glad to be able to talk to him, on the phone, about a month ago. He was so upbeat and amazing to talk to, knowing how sick he was at that time. He will always be a great inspiration to our family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Cindy Jones
How you can show support
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
December 29, 2012
Dear Barbara,
My deepest sympathies to you and your family.My memories are of a Father and Mother whose children were so very important to them. I know that Don's approval meant everything to so many people.
That you have your lovely children and grandchildren are
his greatest legacy.
Thinking of all of you.
Love,Bonnie and John Levey
December 26, 2012
Barb and family,
I learned just today of Don's passing when one of his grandchildren saw a text message on his phone from me and texted me the news from his phone. I'm so glad I was able to visit with him during my last visit to Pittsburgh in early December. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
Nick and Jeanne Antonuccio
Hilton Head Island, SC
Joseph Luera
December 25, 2012
So So Sorry for your loss Jones Family. I have known the Jones since moving back to Pa in 1985. I worked for ICC and Gould Electronics. Don was a wonderful caring person who truly cared for people. He was the Best to work for. His example was seen by the wonderful person his son Tom turned into. I will never forget the many things he did to help with my son was born sick. May you all find peace and comfort. Take care Joseph A Luera.
December 25, 2012
Barbara: we were sorry to read of Don's passing. Please accept our most sinsere sympathy
Bill and Jean Baldwin
Loren Shaum
December 23, 2012
We are stunned at Don's passing. It was nearly a year ago when we last spoke at Jay's Memorial, which was also a shock.
Don was a mentor during my years at CSR prior to selling to Contraves-Goerz. Then we came together again during ICC years. His visionary ability, creative thinking and being on top of the latest technology has always been impressive. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy lives on in all those he mentored.
Gayle and I send our condolences to Barb and family.
Bill Forde
December 21, 2012
I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, Don. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Barbara and their family. Don was many things, a successful entrepreneur, an inventor, a businessman and a venture capitalist. But most of all, he was a very good person who always had a smile and a kind word for friend and stranger alike. He was a wonderful role model with a passion for living and learning and a deep desire to help others to realize their potential. Don put is all into everything he did and inspired others to do the same. I will miss him.
Gorddon Kilgore
December 20, 2012
Sorry to hear of Don's passing. Our prayers are with you.
Jim Sabol
December 20, 2012
I was saddened to learn of Don's passing. My sympathy to all of Don's family. Don was an amazing man. I learned much from him over the years. If you knew Don, it was hard not be touched, learn from his example and even be inspired to follow your own dreams.
December 20, 2012
Dear Barbara, Amy, Autumn, Tom and all the Jones family,
My deepest sympathies to you in the loss of Don. I know no words can comfort your grief at this moment, but I hope in time your loss will become more bearable. The world has lost a great man too.
For all the many years I knew Don I always knew him to be a very kind, funny, and caring man who loved his family and friends deeply. I always enjoyed his many riveting stories and particularly I enjoyed seeing him so happy and feeling good in Portland at Dawn and Josh's wedding this summer. He was truly a remarkable man in every way, and he has left a big footprint on this earth. We will all miss him forever.
Sending my love and condolences,
Barbara Teele
Washington, DC
December 20, 2012
My sympathy to Don's family. We went to school together from first grade on, and I knew his family well. A great loss My prayers are with the family. June Seabury
Jerry McGinnis
December 20, 2012
To Barbara, and all the Don Jones family,
I am terribly saddened by the passing of Don, and very sorry for your loss of his loving presence.
Since the 70's, I have enjoyed, and valued highly my interactions with him in the Pittsburgh high tech community, and since the 90's, as board colleagues at Respironics.
The Pittsburgh community generally, and me specifically, will miss him greatly, and be diminished by his loss.
Sincerely,
Jerry McGinnis
December 20, 2012
Dear Barb and family,
Tom and I were saddened to learn of Don's passing. He was a wonderful friend to many people. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Pam Shaw & Tom Roncevic
Kay (McAndrew) Wasieleski
December 20, 2012
I am saddened to hear of Don's passing. Don made an impact on my life in such a way that inspired me to view opportunities as limitless, see networking with others as a "pay it forward" concept, and believe that no dream is too big or too small. I feel honored that I was able to witness some of his genius in the classroom and beyond.
I have no doubt that he was an inspiration to thousands.
He will be missed.
December 20, 2012
Dear Barbara and family..Don will be missed..what a gracious person, always a warm word and a smile. He lit up the halls in Gateway..You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Judy Glies
Joe Hixenbaugh
December 20, 2012
Don has been a great friend of mine since early school years. I will miss him greatly.
Jan Bollinger
December 20, 2012
Dear Barb,
Goodbye to a classmate from the Franklin Twp. Class of 1955 and a wonderful friend. Lunch will not be the same without Don....with his smile and hugs.
We will all miss him.
Jan
Mike Green
December 19, 2012
We lost a great man but his impact on our community will live on forever. Don will surely be missed by all of us who had the privilege and honor to have known him. Rest in peace dear Don!
michael grasso
December 19, 2012
to the entire jones family, don was one in a million, every time i encountered him in the halls at gateway, he took time to chat and leave a peaceful feeling ! always a smile! he was quite an amazing man! bless you all and my deepest condolences
Claralyn Phillips
December 19, 2012
Dear Barb,
I am so sorry for your loss. I will always remember Don's ready smile and what a genuinely likeable person he was.
You and your family have my sincere sympathy,
Claralyn Phillips
Dave Mawhinney
December 19, 2012
Remembering Donald H. Jones
(1937 - 2012)
This past weekend we lost a legend. Don Jones - friend, mentor, and benefactor - passed away peacefully at home with his family. So many of us were touched in meaningful ways by Don. He was an irrepressible optimist and tireless promoter of innovation and entrepreneurship.
I was blessed to have Don as my personal mentor and to have started a company with him – IndustryNet. I always said that my time working with Don was “like getting a PhD in Entrepreneurship.” Not a day goes by when I don't quote Don – my favorites include:
“Nothing happens until there is a sale …”
“To really understand your customer, you have to walk a mile in their moccasins.”
“If there are two people in the room and they agree on everything, then there is one too many people in the room!”
And Don's concept of “The Goodness Factor” is a fantastic teaching tool to help aspiring entrepreneurs understand that they need compelling value propositions as new entrants to a market.
We will all miss Don. But he will live on in spirit and in memory with us at the Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship.
Dave Mawhinney
Executive Director, Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship
Bunnie Paga
December 19, 2012
Barbara and family,
Don was such a great and fun man. I owe my career in electronics to Don. He will be missed. RIP dear friend.
Bunnie Paga
December 19, 2012
Dear Barb and Family,
Very sorry for your loss. Don was a dear friend and mentor to me and many others and will be remembered fondly.
Mike Hutchinson
December 19, 2012
Dear Barbara and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Don was such a fine man. I will always remember our teenage years.
Sincerely, Jim DeCecco
Barbara Kleppick
December 19, 2012
To all the family. Your husband, father, grandfather was an inspiration to so many people. I have seen many comments since he has passed and I can tell you that he touch the lives of so many as well as myself with just who he was. All would agree that you never were working for Don but working with Don. He will never be forgotten. My deepest sympathies to all of you. He truly was a great man. Sincerely, Barb Kleppick
Philip Salerno, Sr.
December 19, 2012
Dear Jones Family,
My family moved into the Limecrest/Brushcliff/Wm. Penn Ct. neighborhood back in the spring of 1969 and it wasn't long after that I found myself spending my first summer there playing sandlot baseball with the other local kids up at Churchill High School. I was 14 at the time, a bit older than the others, and met this really cool father who kindly introduced himself to me one day and said "let's see what you can do." As I recall, he had this nasty, slow-moving curveball that none of us could hit and his name was Mr. Jones, my friend Tommy's dad. That was the start of several great summers playing ball the way it was meant to be played. And Mr. Jones always found the time to join us.
Fast-forward 40+ years and now, at age 57, I clearly remember one special day when I finally got a hold of one of those famous curveballs from him. And I'll never forget that unmistakeable sting in my hands as both pieces of the bat travelled less than three feet, and the ball, not much further.
I eventually left my old neighborhood to get married back in 1984 but never forgot Mr. Jones. In recent years, I always made a point to read about him and his work via the Internet. He was such a successful man who really did have a profound effect on me as a skinny, teenage kid and I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing.
While I once new him as a really cool father back in the day, I will forever remember him as a really great man. I know he walks with the Lord.
Amy Kaufman
December 19, 2012
Dear Bev and Family,
So sorry for your loss - my prayers are with you.
Showing 1 - 30 of 30 results
4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Make a Donation
in DONALD JONES's name
How to support DONALD's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor DONALD JONES's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
