Graham McClinton Jones

Graham McClinton Jones passed away at his home in Balboa, California on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. He was the second son born to Thaddeus Crane Jones, Jr., and Agnes McClinton Jones of Pasadena and La Jolla, California.

Graham McClinton, known as “Beezie”, attended Polytechnic School class of 1940 in Pasadena, Catalina Island School for Boys class of 1944, and Princeton University where his tenure was interrupted in order to serve in the United States Navy during World War II, initially in the V12 Program as an electronics technician. After the conclusion of the war, he returned to Princeton University, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation from Princeton, he attended Stanford University Business School where he earned an MBA degree.

While his early business career was devoted to industrial organizations including C.F. Braun and Republic Supply Company of California, he soon moved into the commercial real estate field, holding positions with Coldwell Banker Company, Kilroy Industries, Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, and Cadillac Fairview Corporation.

In 1952, Beezie Jones married Rosemary “Rosie” Tilt, daughter of Ned Bass Tilt and Rosemary “Posie” Miller Tilt of Pasadena. Beezie and Rosie raised three children, Laura McClinton Jones Tomlinson (Charles) of Centennial, CO, Rosemary “Allie” Jones Dewey (Brian) of Centennial, CO, and Whitney Edward “Ned” Jones of Newport, Rhode Island. His four grandchildren, Ned, Annie, Graham, and Sabra, all reside in Colorado.

Beezie’s favorite pastime was ocean sailing. He was introduced to this sport at an early age by his father, learning to sail on the family yawl “Aquila” and in class boat racing in Coronado and San Diego. He participated in the Transpacific Yacht Race commencing with the first such race in 1947. In subsequent years he participated in the SORC in Florida, the Transatlantic Race to Europe, Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in 1971, and many other cruises on a variety of sailing vessels through the South Seas, Southeast Asia, North Sea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Antarctic region. He was a member of Newport Harbor Yacht Club, San Diego Yacht Club, and the Cruising Club of America.

Beezie passed his love of sailing and outdoor adventure to his family while cruising on his family sloop, first the “Sanguine”, the “Halcyon”, and then the “Raven”, to his favorite destination of Santa Catalina Island. Beezie was an active member of the Catalina Marineros and donated many volunteer hours to preserving the island.

Beezie was preceded in death by his brother Thaddeus Crane Jones III, M.D., of Laguna Beach, and is survived by his brother Nelson Dorrington Jones (Miriam) of San Marino. Contributions may be made to the Catalina Island Conservancy.