John and Martha Jones shared much in common, most significantly more than 40 years of marriage.
But there’s no doubt assisting Bridgewater State students ranked high on the list for the couple, whose names are linked in multiple ways to BSU.
Named For
John “Jack” Jones, ’62, G’66, and Martha Jones, ’64
The Backstory
“Martha and I both lived the spirit of Bridgewater.”
That’s how John once described their lives, and it couldn’t be more accurate.
Within a few years of their graduations, John and Martha returned to their alma mater to start what would become Bridgewater State careers of more than 30 years.
Martha, who initially served as assistant dean of women, took on increasingly significant positions, including acting vice president of student affairs. John predominately worked as an elementary education professor, but also served as assistant dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
Martha was a founding member of the BSU Foundation board while she and John both served for many years on the Bridgewater Alumni Association executive board.
They never forgot Bridgewater, as John established the John W. Jones and Martha D. Jones College Advancement Fund to support BSU’s most urgent needs, especially student internships.
BSU, in turn, remembers them. The university gives out the Martha D. Jones Award for Enriching the Lives of BSU Students. And it named its alumni building after the couple in 2018.
That building, which is the oldest on campus, was constructed around 1860 for Joseph L. Basset, who ran a hotel in town. Over the years, the home has been used for medical offices, a bookstore and the corporate office of a specialty chemicals company. BSU acquired the property in 2017.
Use Today
Located on Summer Street across from CVS, the building holds Alumni and Development offices.
Material in this article comes from the BSU alumni website, the fiscal 2017 philanthropic impact report and “Alumni House Dedicated to John and Martha Jones” by Heather Harris Michonski.