Daniel Jones

The beginning and end of Daniel Jones's life can be summed up simply: he was a good man. It is as straightforward as that. It was the life he chose to live, every single day.

Find someone who knew Dan, and you likely found someone he had shown up for – hammer or trowel in hand for a repair, tongs in hand at the grill, a reassuring presence in the stands, or simply a steady voice on the other end of the phone when life got complicated. But he won't be missed most for the help he so freely offered. He'll be missed for the love that drove all of it and for the bonds he nurtured, one person at a time, that made each of us feel genuinely special to him.

Dan is survived by his beloved wife, Carlotta (McCoy) Jones, and their two daughters – Lindsey and Katie. He is also survived by his father, Joseph Jones Jr.; his brothers, Joseph (Jennifer) Jones III and John (Doreen) Jones; his sister, Eileen Ferrara; his sister-in-law, Mo (Nick) Gannon; and his parents-in-law, Frank and Carlotta McCoy. He was preceded in death by his mother, Martha Eileen Theresa Jones; his sister Jennifer; and his brother-in-law, Leonard Ferrara. He is further survived by his many adoring nieces and nephews.

Dan's entire teaching career was devoted to the Woodbury City Public Schools, a source of deep and genuine pride. He was honored to carry forward a long Jones family tradition of service to Woodbury City as educators. He gave himself fully to that work, as a classroom teacher, a class advisor, and an athletic coach. He forged relationships with colleagues and students that reflected, unmistakably, how much he cared about each and every one of them.

Dan himself was never a cross country runner or a track athlete, yet he found remarkable success coaching both sports. What brought him the greatest satisfaction wasn't championship banners, though those came, but the quieter victories: a student shaving seconds off a personal best, an athlete discovering a love for the sport that would carry into college and beyond. It was less about standing atop the podium at states and more about the small, tight-knit teams that bonded through a season and then peaked at precisely the right moment to capture a New Jersey State Group 1 Championship.

His dedication was recognized with numerous honors, including the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Coach of Track & Field award (2010), the South Jersey Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year (2022–23), and most recently, induction into the South Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

In his retirement, he and Carlotta enjoyed rich travel experiences, beach days, and time with their daughters. In addition Dan and Car began visiting national parks and taking hiking trips. Dan would often laugh, “I'm not built for this!”

But his greatest acclaim – the kind that mattered most to him – came as husband, father, son, brother, uncle, neighbor, friend, and mentor. He was loved by so many. He will be missed by so very many more.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Sunday evening, June 21 from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm at the King Funeral Service, 209 N. Newtown Street Road (Route 252), Newtown Square. A visitation will also be held on Monday morning, June 22 from 9:15 am until 10:15 am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 136 Saxer Avenue, Springfield. Dan's Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 am. Interment will follow Mass at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dan’s name to the Woodbury City Public Schools for the establishment of a scholarship for a deserving graduate attending post-secondary studies who participated in girls or boys track or cross country. Donations can be mailed to: Woodbury City Public Schools, District Office, 25 N Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ, 08096.