John C. Stone II

John C. Stone II, of Greensboro, Vermont, and Hanover, New Hampshire, 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 trips to Wyoming's Wind River Range, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Belize, Europe, and the UK.

He 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, the renowned mountaineer Bob Bates. He graduated from Princeton University in 1953, and as a member of the Princeton swim team held long-standing records in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.

John served as a Lieutenant JG in the U.S. Naval Reserve, graduating in the top 1% of his OCS class in Newport, Rhode Island, and serving four years of sea duty as intelligence officer aboard 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 began a second career in fundraising, at Princeton University, Phillips Exeter Academy, and the University of Vermont.

John will be remembered by his countless friends and family for his humility, storytelling, good humor, and his passion for New Orleans jazz, bluegrass, and country music.

He was survived by his wife of 42 years, Marcia Stone; his sister Susan Slater; his daughter Lisa Stone; his son John C. Stone III and daughter-in-law Emily Stone; four grandchildren — David Wilson, John Charles "Chase" Stone IV, Zachary Wilson, and Sara Margaret "Maggie" Wilson; Marcia's children John and Jen McGill and their family; and his beloved chocolate Labrador, Guinness.