Rev. Richard F. Jones, BA, MDiv (born 7/17/1956) passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2022 after a short hospitalization. Before retiring in 2020, he was the Pastor of the First Parish of Bolton, Massachusetts, for 25 years, and was a leader in the cultural life of the Worcester area and a passionate advocate for music and history throughout the region. As Hook Organ Curator and Development Officer of Worcester’s historic Mechanics Hall, he instituted a popular free noontime Brown Bag concert series and worked with many well-known personalities, from cellist Yo Yo Ma to civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. Richard served numerous organizations including two terms as dean of the Worcester AGO and as board member of the Organ Historical Society. In his work as Dean, Richard instituted a public school education program for the chapter that mesmerized thousands of students with the capabilities of the pipe organ. In 1985, he organized The Fuller International Organ Festival with organists including Simon Preston, Peter Hurford, and David Higgs, He also served as Education Director of the Worcester Historical Museum, was a contributing writer for Worcester Magazine, hosted a radio program on the local NPR station ("The Art of the Organ"), served as musical consultant for the Merchant-Ivory film, The Bostonians, and was an active member of the Worcester Shakespeare Club. He served on the organ restoration committees of both the Hook in Mechanics Hall and the Kimball in Worcester Auditorium.

A Celebration of Life service is being planned for Tuesday, 10/11/22 at 7pm at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA. 
A tribute concert is being planned at the hall for 2023.