John Lewis (Lew) Ames passed away on Jan. 23, 2005 at his home in White Stone, VA. He was born in Norfolk, VA, July 15, 1912, to Harry Lee and Catherine Betty Ames. He spent most of his life on Long Island before retiring to the northern neck of Virginia in 1983.

He graduated from Lynbrook High School in 1929 and received an AB from Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, VA) in 1933. While at Randolph-Macon, he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa (national leadership honor society) and Tau Kappa Alpha. After graduation, he was accepted to the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond where he received his JD in 1937. He continued his education throughout the remainder of his career by completing various post-graduate courses at NYU. Mr. Ames was admitted to both the Virginia State Bar (1937) and NYS Bar (1940), where he argued cases on both the state and federal level, including cases involving the US Treasury Department.

Mr. Ames had a very long and distinguished business career, spending a majority of it in New York City. Upon his law school graduation, he began his career in the tax department of the Home Life Insurance Company. In 1938 he became a trial attorney with Tanner, Sillcocks & Friend. In 1941 he was hired as House Counsel at Ruthrauff & Ryan, Inc., a NYC advertising firm. From 1942 to 1945, he served his country as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, splitting time between the Washington DC and NYC field offices. In 1945, he rejoined Ruthrauff & Ryan as counsel and assistant to the president. Over the next 10 years, he was assigned to various executive positions, becoming vice president and director in 1955. Upon a corporate merger in 1957, he became vice president and secretary of Erwin, Wassey, Ruthrauff & Ryan, Inc. From 1959 to 1963 he was assistant director of business affairs for CBS TV Network, Inc. In 1962 he was back in the advertising arena as director and vice president in charge of administration at Kudner Agency, Inc. He joined West Weir & Bartel, Inc. in 1966 as senior vice president for administration and finance. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1967. From 1968 to 1973 he was vice president, secretary for Lennen & Newell, Inc. He joined Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sampel, Inc., as vice president of business and legal affairs in 1973 until his move to Virginia in 1983. While in Virginia, he was retained as legal counsel for Saatchi & Saatchi DFS, Inc. doing special filings with the Justice Department until 1994.

He was a member on the national panel of the American Arbitration Association. From 1946 to 1948 he served as special deputy attorney general of NY and was a member of the NC Crime Commission from 1973 to 1983. He was a past president of the American Association of Advertising Agencies Group Insurance Trust and past secretary to the Society of Former Agents of the FBI. He also was a member of Lancaster County (VA) Crime Solvers until shortly before his death and served as president from 1991-1994.

Mr. Ames was very civic-minded and proud of what he has accomplished through all of his volunteer work. His proudest accomplishment was serving the people and children of Massapequa (UFSD #23) as school district attorney in 1952 and as a school board member for 1952 to 1979. As board president from 1957 to 1978, he helped guide the school district through its largest growth period. He also served as president of the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association and the Alumni Society at Randolph-Macon College. In honor for his 30 years of service as a trustee at his alma mater of Randolph-Macon, Mr. Ames was named a Trustee Emeritus in 1985.

Other organizations that included Mr. Ames as a member were NYC Lawyers Association, Virginia State Bar Association, NY Audit & Financial Management Association, NYS School Boards Association, NYS Association of School Attorneys and NY Community College Advisory Committee. He also was a past lecturer for NYU Advanced Seminars.

Mr. Ames belonged to Southward Ho Country Club, Murray Hill Club of NY, Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club (Kilmarnock, VA) and Windmill Point Yacht Club (White Stone, VA).

He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Kilbon Ames (Peg) in 1996. Surviving are his daughter, Margaret Lee Ward (Michael) of Alexandria, VA, and his son, John Lewis Ames Jr. (Elaine) of Virginia Beach, VA. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Cynthia Elaine Jones, Dawn Michelle Dovel, Christopher Royce Ward, Gregory Scott Ames, Stephanie Ward Scheel, Melissa Ward Gardiner and great-grandchildren, Ryan Austin Dovel, Catherine Elaine Jones, Courtney Ames Dovel, Colin Royce Ward, Kimberly Margaret Jones, Kyle Hensley Ames, Molly Elisabeth Ward, Dylan Richard Scheel, Margaret Mackenzie Scheel and Emily Caroline Ames.

The funeral service was held on Jan. 28 at White Stone United Methodist Church. The Rev. Richard Gordon presided. Burial Jan. 29 at Ivy Hill Cemetery, Alexandria officiated by The Rev. William Burrough. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or Lancaster County Crime Solvers, c/o Lancaster Sheriff's Office, 8293 Mary Ball Rd., Lancaster, VA 22503. Funeral arrangements handled by the Currie Funeral Home of Kilmarnock, VA.