Andrew MacNamara Pons Dies at 70

Andrew MacNamara Pons, a highly respected addiction counselor on Maryland's Eastern Shore, died Jan. 2, following complications from cardiac arrest five days earlier. He was 70.  

Born in Baltimore on May 31, 1953, he was the oldest son of Joseph and Mary Jo Pons. He grew up on his family's Country Life Farm near Bel Air, Md. After graduating from The John Carroll School in 1971, he began work as an assistant for Hall of Fame horse trainer Henry S. Clark at Delaware Park. He was called back to the family farm to manage the historic Thoroughbred nursery through the late 1970s. His equine experience included a term in the stallion division of Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky., where he met Marva Jones. The couple returned to Maryland and were married at Country Life in 1986. 

With the support of family in 1991, Pons enrolled in a 28-day, in-patient treatment course at Father Martin's Ashley Addiction Center in Havre de Grace. Thereupon, he determined to finish college and persevered through 10 years of night school to graduate with a Master of Science Human Services Administration degree from the University of Baltimore in 2002. He would later quip: "I finished my sophomore year of college 27 years after my freshman year."

As the son of a recovering father in the Alcoholics Anonymous program, Pons faced the disease of alcoholism with wry humor: "If I'm carrying a gene for addiction, then I must also be carrying a gene for recovery." He put that gene to good use, became a counselor at Ashley, then relocated to Chestertown to live on Marva's family farm, Belle Grove, on Langford Creek in Kent County.  He was named clinical director of the A. F. Whitsett Center in Chestertown, a vital facility for those suffering from substance use disorder.  

"He won the confidence of his patients through his wit and humor," said Ashley colleague Jeffrey Gross. "He treated alcoholics and drug addicts not as bad people trying to get good, but as sick people trying to get well."

His life in recovery brought redemption. Not only did he rededicate himself to his family, he rediscovered exciting pursuits. Decades after being a starting midfielder on the 1970 John Carroll championship team, he became a member of the Mr. Boh Lacrosse Club and played in tournaments from Australia to England, often accompanied by his young nephews, ball boys for the Mr. Boh team. As a coach for youth leagues, he put lacrosse sticks into the hands of many youngsters who later carried their skills to the college level. He played for the Mr. Boh team until his mid-60s. 

"More than a few tears are being shed today," wrote his longtime teammate Dave Burns before e-mailing the news to the Mr. Boh family. "Rest in peace, Andy."

He also enjoyed sailing the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay, finding sandbars with surprising frequency. He once arrived fashionably late and covered in mud to his own AA anniversary meeting, apologizing: "You'll never guess where I've been!"

"Sailing?" guessed the group. 

His brother, Josh, said: "Every family has a favorite uncle, and Andrew was ours. His nicknames for nephews and nieces stuck, like Wee Marva, Gus, Big Dave, Bootsie, Phil, JP3, Sparkle. They learned so much from him, and what a positive example he set for us all."

He shared his wisdom through humor. To his farm-boy nephews, he offered vital instruction on how to use a chain saw safely: "If it bleeds, don't cut it."

An active, outdoors life he lived right to the end. He was playing pickleball with Chestertown pals at the Y when he collapsed. The University of Maryland Shore Medical Center transferred him by ambulance to Christiana Care Hospital, adjacent to Delaware Park. He was admitted to the Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Lunger Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. 

"How appropriate," said Josh. "The Lungers owned Christiana Stable, based at Delaware Park. That's where Andrew worked for Mr. Clark, who was the first to truly recognize what a fine young horseman he was." 

"I've known him since grade school," said a Bel Air AA member. "He was a presence even back then. I remember when he introduced himself. 'My name is Andrew MacNamara Pons. What's yours?' I knew him 60 years. He gave up a life with horses—something he loved—to spend his life helping other alcoholics. That's a powerful statement of who he was. That's what stands out about him as a man. That's what we'll remember. That he helped others."

Said Eastern Shore goose-hunting guide and kindred spirit Steve Goss: "It's not fair. He's here on Christmas Day handing out trail mix as presents, then he's gone. Didn't drink, didn't smoke, didn't figure to be the one to leave us."

Pons is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marva, his stepdaughter Karianna Johnson (Tom) Brace, granddaughters Ellie and Minna; his siblings Norah Pons, Josh (Ellen) Pons, Mike (Lisa) Pons, and Alice Pons; Marva's siblings BJ Jones, Keith (Nancy) Jones, Jonathan (Beverly) Jones and Steven (Caroline) Jones. Nieces and nephews: Tess Jones, Marva Kumpf, Ben Jones, Lindsay (Matt) Diehl, Charlotte Jones, Christopher Jones, Alexander Jones, Philip (Lindsay) Pons, Elizabeth (Garrett) Forsberg, Josh (Shelby) Pons, Dave (Maggie Clough) Pons, and August (Hayley) Pons. 

Remembrances of life are in the planning stages for late spring, one at Belle Grove and another at Country Life, for the convenience of his many friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a favorite cause of his: The Mann House, Inc., 14 Williams Street, Bel Air, Md., 21014, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit recovery residence where he often attended AA meetings.

"Andrew was that rare breed, that rare personality," said lacrosse teammate Jim Ulman. "I'll be thinking about him for a long, long time." 

He will forever be remembered for his impact on the lives of others. Recalled his brother Mike: "If you asked Andy how he was doing, without fail, he would remind you, 'It's a good life, ain't it?'"