Our 50-year Reunion Gift to GWHS: A Scholarship Honoring Science Teacher Merton Jones

Top left: Mert's F'41 senior photo and mini-bio/plans; it appears that those plans changed once he got to college

Bottom left: Mert between two other GWHS alums who also returned to teach, Effie Pandell S'58 (Social Studies) and Doug McEachern S'46 (Practical Arts/Driver's Ed), fulfilling their duties as part of SWEEP (Save Washington's Environment and Ecology Please program) during the 1983-84 school year

Born in San Francisco to Welsh immigrants, Mert grew up at 29th & Anza and played on the land of sand dunes and rock quarry that later became GWHS, from which he graduated in January 1942 with the Class of Fall 1941. After earning his Bachelors from S.F. State and his Masters from Stanford, he taught at Sacramento's Del Paso Elementary for one year, followed by one year at "the other" George Washington High School in Fremont's Centerville District. Returning to our GWHS in 1951, he taught Chemistry and other Science classes until retiring in 1984, a teaching career of 33 years at GWHS. 

Mert died on October 9, 2019, at the age of 95, sharp as a tack to the end. He is survived by sons Jeff and Garrett and their wives Liz and Patty; grandchildren Anne, Shannon, Dylan, Alex and Elisa; and great-granddaughter Calliope. He was preceded in death by his wife Catherine.

The anonymous S'74 classmate who advocated for the creation of this scholarship said, "Why honor Merton Jones? A good teacher loves the subject matter and explains it well. A great teacher inspires YOU to love the subject. Mr. Jones was a great Chemistry teacher. He entertained us by jumping up and down to demonstrate how electrons move, while acknowledging they actually move in orbits. The best testimonial that he was a great teacher was when a student asked him, 'Mr. Jones, would you teach MY kids Chemistry?' He always emphasized the importance of, and encouraged, civic engagement. In his class you not only learned Chemistry but also life skills like critical thinking."

Our 50-year reunion surplus of $4,534.62 launched this fund, with a match from the anonymous alum for the first $500 in additional donations. As of May 31, 2025, the Jones scholarship fund has reached $10,124.81. The first Merton Jones Award of $750, for a student who excels in Chemistry as selected by Science teachers, was given on May 29, 2025, to Charlotte Lee. 

Add your tax-deductible contribution to help the Jones Fund reach the level of $20,000 or higher, so it may become the Classes of 1974's permanent legacy to GWHS as a self-sustaining perpetual fund! Go to the GWHS Alumni Association's donation platform Givebutter and scroll down the "Designate Your Gift" dialog box to select CHEMISTRY Scholarship (Mert Jones F'41/33-yr teacher).