By Paul Maryniak, Tribune Managing Editor

Rick Jones, a longtime Mesa insurance executive known for his commitment to his family and the community, died Dec. 12, four days after he turned 65.

The executive vice president and chief operating officer of workers compensation giant CopperPoint, Jones had been elected in June as chair of the East Valley Partnership board, one of many organizations he championed in his free time.

Partnership President/CEO John Lewis, who was mayor of Gilbert when he met Jones, said Jones’ 30 years in the insurance industry helped make him “very skilled at relationship-building in the Valley, which paid off immensely for CopperPoint.”

“He had a really strong work ethic, but he also had a tender heart for his family,” Lewis said. “He cared about his family. He cared about his company. He cared about his community.”

Survived by his wife Carol, four children and 18 grandchildren, Jones gathered with his entire family every Sunday, Lewis said.

“That was the highlight of the week for him,” he said.

But he also “loved to get to work early in the morning and get a good head start on the day. I think he probably had 10 things done before I got into work,” Lewis added.