GREENFIELD, MA – Jay Lord (born John Garvin Lord, Jr.), beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, son and friend passed away on December 20th, at the age of 83, after a courageous fight with cancer.
Jay was an organizer, a teacher, a farmer, a financial steward, a social entrepreneur, a mentor, a builder, a dancer, and a problem solver. He was mischievous and brave and always ready to help and welcome others in. He was deeply committed to social justice and to the idea, practice, and power of LOCAL.
His impact on the community, through his work and ideas has been deep and broad. Jay helped launch the first Greenfield Farmers Market, founded C.O.L.T. (Citizens Opposed to Land Taking), which protected the Green River from dam development, and created a program at Greenfield Community College to help adults find new employment pathways. Jay cofounded the Greenfield Center School and the Northeast Foundation for Children where he worked as a longtime teacher and director and brought Responsive Classroom to the national stage. He served as a board member at Greenfield’s Market Food Co-op. And, most recently, Jay cofounded Just Roots, a Greenfield-based grassroots organization, that promotes community access to healthy, locally-grown food, runs one of the largest SNAP supported CSA’s in the state, and promotes food as medicine through innovative partnerships with health care organizations.
Jay was a person of big ideas, but he was, at heart, a do-er, just as happy to shovel snow off a roof as he was to bring a visionary plan to the mayor’s office. In recent photographs, Jay is seen wearing a black tee shirt given to him by one of his grandchildren, chosen for its words: “Be A Nice Human.” In his own way, it was Jay’s message and his mission.
As much as he loved his work, Jay’s favorite role of all was as father, grandfather, and husband. He had two children by birth (with Karen Lord), two by marriage (with Ruth Charney), and nine grandchildren in whom he delighted. He remained close friends with his former wife Karen Lord, with whom he ran fiddlehead farm from their homestead in Colrain. And for forty-four years, he was partners with Ruth Charney, with whom he shared a passion for teaching, politics, good food, and summers riding the waves in Truro.
Jay weathered this final stretch of life with his typical cheer and perseverance, taking care with others even as his health wavered. Jay, and his family, were buoyed and at times carried by the help of friends, family, and neighbors-each and every one appreciated-filling our hearts as they ached at our impending loss. Special thanks to the women of KIZ Helping Hands. For all, we were and are so grateful.
Jay is survived by his wife, Ruth Charney; his children, Apple Sussmann (Michael) of Washington, D.C., Hannah Lord (Andy Mathey) of Colrain, Massachusetts, Emma Ellsworth (Tom) of Orange, MA, Daniel Ross (Lisa Rodriguez-Ross) of South Hadley, MA; and his grandchildren, Margaret, Rose, Paul, Max, Natasha, Karina, Mo, Chelsea, and Cole. He was predeceased by his parents and by his sister, Ann.
John, Jay, Dad, Bonga, Tata, son, husband, grandpa, uncle, friend, teacher, farmer, neighbor, “nice human,” you will be so deeply missed.
A celebration of Jay’s life will be held on Saturday, January 24, at 2:00 pm at the Greenfield Grange (401 Chapman Street). A longer obituary is available through the Greenfield Recorder.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Just Roots Farms in Greenfield, MA.
Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.
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