Paying It Forward

Couple Gives Back to the Place That Brought Them Together

Devoted alumni Linda and C.J. Jones continually give their time, talent and financial gifts to the University that has given them so much.

Central Connecticut State University played a starring role in the lives of alumni Charles “C.J.” Jones ’69, MS ’72, and his wife, Linda (Coggshall) Jones ’70, MS ’80, 6th Year ’86.

Their CCSU classmates brought C.J. and Linda together, and in 1974 they were married on campus.

Shortly after he graduated, C.J. joined the CCSU staff as assistant director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). He went on to become the program’s director, a position he held for 25 years. Early in his tenure, C.J. also started coaching CCSU basketball. In 1995, C.J. was named athletic director.

Now retired, the Joneses have remained “true blue” to the University. C.J. is on the Foundation board, Alumni Association Sports committee and Homecoming committee, and they’re both helping to coordinate the 50th anniversary celebration of EOP.

C.J. urges alumni to take a moment to realize how they got to where they are today and to find a way to leave a legacy. In the 1990s, C.J. and Linda created their own scholarship fund.

“If you can commit to an annual gift based on a wonderful experience with a specific program, then when you’re in a position to make a bequest, the transition becomes that much easier,” C.J. says.

To show their continuous support for EOP, athletics and their individual scholarship funds, the couple recently bequeathed a majority of their estate to CCSU.

“If we hadn’t come to Central, we probably wouldn’t have met and been able to enjoy such good professional careers,” C.J. says. “We’re in a position now to give back to the University that gave so much to us.”