Ellenburg man opens dive shop in brother's memory

Local News

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For more information about A & M Scuba or Melvin's scholarship fund, contact Archie at 569-5046 or 594-7100.

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

September 5, 2010

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Sun Sep 05, 2010, 07:36 AM EDT

ELLENBURG — By ANDREA VanValkenburg

Staff Writer

Through the years, Archie and Melvin Jones were more than just siblings.

They were best friends, separated by 11 years but united through a lifetime of love, respect and common interests.

"We were very close," Archie recently recalled.

"A lot of the things we did, we did together."

When they were younger, a death in the family brought them closer with Melvin moving into Archie's home and eventually following in many of his older brother's footsteps.

For a time, Archie served his country in the Air Force. Melvin later joined the Navy.

They both eventually earned nursing degrees and took their experiences into the Department of Correctional Services, where they each settled into work at various facilities in the North Country.

Later, they even bought homes across the street from one another.

They spoke every day and shared nearly everything — including a passion for scuba diving.

But earlier this year, their closeness was shattered by the death of the younger Jones, who suffered a stroke while enjoying the pair's favorite hobby.

In May, when Archie was on a trip downstate, Melvin dived into local waters and suffered a stroke 60 feet underwater.

"He knew something catastrophic was going on," Archie said as he detailed the life-saving measures Melvin tried to take as he floated to the surface and was helped by fellow divers.

"I'm so proud of the people he was with. What they did was nothing less than heroic. They got him to shore, and he still had a heart beat."

But complications from the stroke ultimately led to the 46-year-old's death.

After the devastating loss, Archie took solace in knowing that Melvin "died doing what he loved to do" and then helped save other lives by being an organ donor, but he struggled to cope with Melvin's death.

And in the days following Melvin's passing, still numb from the loss, Archie sprung into action, comforted by "the amazing outpouring of support from people in the community. Everyone was truly incredible."

Before Melvin died, the men planned to attend Rich Morin's Professional Scuba Center in Glens Falls, where they hoped to find success in the center's specialized instructor class.

With dreams of opening a dive shop and sharing their passion with others, the Joneses planned to further their scuba experiences together as they had since beginning the hobby in 2006.

But as Archie geared up for retirement and Melvin worked out his vacation schedule, their trip to instructor school was challenged by time.

Archie didn't want to embark on the adventure alone, but his brother wouldn't take no for an answer.

"He said 'You're going. I've already set it up,'" Archie recalled.

So a week after burying his loved one, Archie packed up like Melvin wanted and left the area, now hoping to fulfill both their dreams.

And that's exactly what he did.