During Teacher Union Day on Nov. 2, the UFT posthumously honored two accomplished members who died in May 2025, presenting their families with memorial plaques: Ron Jones, a former vice president for elementary schools, and Richard Miller, a former vice president for middle schools.

Jones began his career in 1967 as a kindergarten teacher in Brooklyn. He became the union’s District 15 representative in 1973, a vice president for elementary schools in 1993, and an executive assistant to the president and UFT secretary in 2002.

He helped create two union programs that members value today: Teacher’s Choice and school-based options.

Jones received the Charles Cogen Award — the union’s highest honor — in 2004.

He died on May 28 at age 79.

“He loved this union to its core, and he gave up so much of his time and his passion to the UFT,” said current UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford.

Richard Miller began his career as a social studies teacher in Brooklyn in 1959 before transferring seven years later to IS 61 in Queens, where he served as a longtime chapter leader. He worked part time for the union, coordinating political action and representing members at grievance hearings in Queens.

Miller, who helped the AFT organize locally and nationally, served as executive director of the Indiana Federation of Teachers before returning to the UFT in 1985 as the union’s District 25 representative. A decade later, he was elected vice president for middle schools, a post he held for seven years before retiring.

After settling in Nevada, Miller became the RTC section coordinator for Nevada. “Rich never really retired because he brought life to the retiree chapter in Las Vegas,” said John Soldini, who worked alongside Miller in the union for decades.

Miller died of heart failure on May 17 at age 87. “We remember him with deep gratitude and admiration,” said current UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell.