Henry H. Jones, professor emeritus of radiology, passes away at 95

- By Margarita Gallardo

Steven Artandi

Henry H. Jones

Henry H. Jones, MD, whose distinguished career as a professor of radiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine spanned almost six decades, died peacefully of causes related to old age at his home on campus on Aug. 11 with his family nearby. He was 95.

Jones' professional life was synonymous with the Department of Radiology, to which he was recruited in 1948 by the legendary Henry Kaplan, MD, who had just been appointed chair. Jones went on to become a key part of the team that built the department into a powerhouse in the field. From his 58 or so years of diagnosing and treating patients with bone and soft tissue tumors, he leaves the department with a legacy of more than 2,000 case studies, which are being digitized to make them available to students today and in the future.

Intrigued by the radiology of the skeletal system, Jones contributed to landmark research on how running affects bone density, as well as to studies of how tennis elbow increases bone size. He also explored how X-ray might be used to provide movies of a beating heart, a precursor of technologies now being widely used.

Students and faculty praised Jones as a devoted teacher, who won the medical school's Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching, and his trainees went on to become radiologists in private practices and academic medical centers nationwide. He was the first chief of the radiology service at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital, now the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, where he trained many Stanford medical students, interns and residents. Upon assuming emeritus status in 1985, Jones also reported that he had provided pre-medical counseling to 847 undergraduates.

"His wealth of experience and patient approach to problems was unmatched," said Christopher Beaulieu, MD, PhD, chief of musculoskeletal imaging in the Department of Radiology. "We were all very lucky to have worked with him."

Faculty members remembered Jones for his modesty, joie de vivre and his professional skills. Into his 80s, he started most days by riding his bicycle to Stanford Hospital, wearing his trademark tweed jacket and brown wingtips, a sheaf of notes to himself clipped to his necktie.

His colleagues and students were like a second family to him, and he and his wife, Peggy, hosted countless parties for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and special events. Medical students were welcome to stop in unannounced to join Jones, his wife and three children for dinner, and Thanksgiving celebrations usually included a half-dozen or more students. Visiting faculty sometimes lived with the family. Their Stanford home also served as the rehearsal hall for a Dixieland jazz band in which Henry played drums.

"The glue that held us together" is how William Marshall, MD, emeritus professor of radiology, described Jones' role in the department. "Early on, in a group that contained magnificent egos, only Henry felt no need to trumpet his own self-importance," Marshall said. "Any job that needed to be done, Henry would do. He became our affectionate heart.

"Later on, when old departmental friends would get together, they always asked first, 'How is Henry Jones?'" Marshall added.

Jones never lost his passion for radiology and continued to practice for years after taking emeritus status. "His expertise in bone tumors was always appreciated, and I would consult him on cases until quite recently," said Garry Gold, MD, professor of radiology. "He was a fabulous mentor and friend."

In addition to his Stanford work, Jones was a founding member of Physicians for Social Responsibility and a leader in the movement to eliminate the threat of nuclear war and weapons of mass destruction. In 1994, he received the group's Broad Street Pump Award, which honors the most dedicated activists.

A third-generation physician, Jones was born on June 9, 1917, in Altoona, Penn. His father was a urologist, and his mother superintendent of music for the Altoona schools and, later, a fashion writer. He graduated from Haverford College in 1939 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and received his medical degree in 1943 from Yale, with a specialty in radiology. A card-carrying bon vivant even during the rigors of medical school, he put in long days of work, then often headed down to New York City to catch the late shows at jazz clubs.

Jones served from 1946-48 as an instructor at the U.S. Army School of Roentgenology (radiology employing X-rays) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, where he trained physicians to be radiologists or "90-day wonders," as they were commonly called. He also served as head of radiology in Bad Constadt, Germany, the orthopedic center for the army of occupation.

In 1948, Jones was hired by his former Yale professor, Kaplan, who had become chair of Stanford's young radiology department. Upon arriving on the West Coast, Jones joined with other faculty in radiology to expand the department and helped to move the medical school from its San Francisco location to its current spot on the Stanford campus, which was accomplished in 1959.

In 1952 Jones married Margaret ("Peggy") Crusius, MD, whose long career as a pediatrician with the Santa Clara County well-baby and immunization clinics paralleled Henry's career at Stanford. Across many decades, the couple was enthusiastic fans of the Stanford basketball, football and Lively Arts programs. They also enjoyed the Stanford Sierra Camp for many years when their children were young.

Jones is survived by his wife, Peggy, of Stanford; daughter Virginia Jones of Castro Valley, Calif; son Henry C. Jones of Eugene, Ore.; son Keasley Jones of Berkeley, Calif., and daughter-in-law Autumn Stephens; and two grandchildren. He also leaves many friends, colleagues and former students who retain warm memories of his exuberant spirit, which informed his customary way of ending a conversation: "Happy Day!"

A memorial service, open to all, will be held at Memorial Church on Sept. 20 at 4 p.m., with a reception to follow on campus at Paul Brest Hall and the Rehnquist Courtyard. For information about parking, call the church office at 723-1762.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jones may be made to the Stanford University School of Medicine. Gifts may be sent to Development Services, Stanford University, P.O. Box 20466, Stanford, CA, 94309. Please be sure to write Jones' name in the memo or attach a note stating a gift is being made in his honor. For more information, please visit http://medicalgiving.stanford.edu/.

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