John C. Stone II, of Greensboro, VT, and Hanover, NH, passed away on August 30, 2022, at his home in Greensboro after a full day of outdoor activity. John had a passion for mountaineering, sailing, fly fishing, bird hunting, swimming, and golf, spending many days “in the field” including multiple trips to Wyoming’s Wind River Range, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Belize, Europe, and the UK.
John was born on June 20, 1931, in Bronxville, New York, the son of J. Sydney Stone and Mary Rhodes Stone. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, class of 1949, where he founded the Exeter Mountaineering Club led by his favorite teacher, renowned mountaineer Bob Bates. He graduated from Princeton University in 1953. As a member of the Princeton swim team, John held long-standing records in both the 50 y and the 100 y freestyle.
John served as a Lieutenant JG in the U.S. Naval Reserve, graduating in the top 1% of his class in OCS training in Newport, RI, and serving four years of sea duty as the intelligence officer on the USS Hornet. He began his career as a geologist at Esso Exploration (Exxon) with assignments in Guatemala, England, Nicaragua, and Senegal. In 1970, he pursued a second career in fundraising at Princeton University, Phillips Exeter Academy, and the University of Vermont.
John will be remembered forever by his countless friends and family for his humility, storytelling, good humor, and passion for New Orleans jazz, bluegrass, and country music.
John is survived by his wife of 42 years, Marcia Stone, sister Susan Slater, daughter Lisa Stone, son John C. Stone III, daughter-in-law Emily Stone, and four grandchildren, David Wilson, John Charles “Chase” Stone IV, Zachary Wilson, and Sara Margaret “Maggie” Wilson, in addition to Marcia’s children, John McGill, Jen McGill, and grandchildren: Kira Saligman McGill, Sara Saligman McGill, Micah O’Leary and his “favorite son,” Guinness, his beloved chocolate labrador retriever.