William C. Jones, a Cambridge City Council regular for four decades known for his love of city politics and compassion for people in need, died this Monday. He was 82.

Jones, known to decades of city councillors as “Jonesy,” spoke at almost every weekly council meeting for the last 40 years.

And for the past few years the podium for public comment in the council’s Sullivan Chamber has literally been all his own.

In November 1999 the council purchased a new podium and dedicated it to Jones.

A golden plaque on its front reads, “The Cambridge City Council hereby dedicates this podium to William C. Jones in recognition of his many years of effective public testimony at its meetings.”

“It was where Jonesy spoke from all the time,” said Mayor Michael A. Sullivan. “I think he spoke at every council meeting.”

Councillors described Jones as a defender for the people in Cambridge he felt were unappreciated—the elderly, residents of subsidized housing and council employees themselves.

“Bill was kind of...an advocate for people who were up against it a little bit,” said Councillor David P. Maher.

“This was a guy who didn’t have a lot himself but he wasn’t out there looking [out] for him,” he said.

“Police and fire were a big part of it. He was always...advocating for the people who actually do the work around here,” Sullivan said.

Friends describe Jones as a sociable man who could spend hours talking about any aspect of city life and politics.

“He loved to be in conversation,” said Sullivan, describing how Jones would come and find him at church to have a chat.

“I’d be finishing up at Mass and his night would just be starting,” Sullivan said.

Jones didn’t refrain from attacking public policies, but always had the best interests of the city in mind, friends said.

“Jonesy would be very complimentary if he liked you but if he didn’t like you he could be very bald,” Maher said.