GREENWICH, Conn. &
Robert G. Stone is remembered as a man whose contributions to education and industry will live for a long time.
Mr. Stone died at 83 last Tuesday from complications following a stroke.
Mr. Stone is well known in Marion and nationally for his success attained in the corporate and educational world.
He is also well known locally for his family connection to the Stone estate conservation land.
The 700-acre oceanfront tract remains in private hands, but is protected from development. Mr. Stone's son Timothy runs a cheese operation at the estate.
For years, Mr. Stone was a leading executive in the United States' shipping industry, serving as president and chairman of States Marine Lines, which became Kirby Corporation. He served on the boards of the Chubb Corporation, Core Industries, Corning Glass, The Pittston Corporation and Tandem Computer.
He was also a 27-year member of the Harvard Corporation, the senior governing board of Harvard University.
"Bob Stone was a man of strength, character, and permanent optimism," said Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences William C. Kirby.
"He understood this university, and its role in America and around the world, as few ever have. He was, simply, a great man and will be sorely missed."
Widely admired and respected for his commitment to undergraduate financial aid, student athletics, and international studies, Mr. Stone established one of Harvard's largest financial aid funds in the late 1970s in honor of his father, Robert G. Stone.
Since then, more than 200 students have benefited from his generosity.
According to Henry Rosovsky, former dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and former member of Harvard's Corporation, Mr. Stone's devotion to undergraduates was inspiring to all.
"Everybody will mention Bob Stone's great service on the corporation or to Harvard in general," he said.
Mr. Stone graduated from Harvard College in 1947 following service in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
With regard to his avocations, Mr. Stone was best known as the commodore of the New York Yacht Club in 1983 when an Australian boat mounted the first successful challenge for the America's Cup in 130 years. He stayed active in club affairs to the end.
Mr. Stone also served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Mystic Seaport Museum.
Mr. Stone leaves his wife of 58 years, Marion Rockefeller Stone of Greenwich, Conn., and six children, including Catherine Stone and Timothy B. Stone of Marion.
Date of Publication April 25, 2006 on Page A09
ROBERT G. STONE, JR. - longtime Trustee and Board Chairman of Greenwich Country Day School, former President of the Field Club, longtime member of the Harvard Corporation, former Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, and a director of numerous public corporations, died Tuesday evening in Boston from complications following a stroke. He was 83 years old.
Mr. Stone was a leading executive in the US shipping industry, serving as president and chairman of States Marine Lines, and of General Energy Corporation, which later became Kirby Corporation. He also served on the boards of Chubb, Core Industries, Corning Glass, Pittston, and Tandem Computer, among others.