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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Mar '97
Richard Leonard Stone
No. 15576 Class of 1946
Died 19 March 1995 at Fredericksburg, Virginia, aged 71 years.
Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
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Dick specifically requested that his memorial article
not be a litany of his birth, schooling, assignments, etc. To
honor his request and his life, excerpts from the three eulogies
delivered at his memorial service are provided.
First, from longtime friend and classmate, Jiggs
Gigante:
"My friendship with Dick Stone goes back to 1936 when Dick's
family moved from upstate to Mount Vernon, New York where we
attended DeWitt Clinton Jr. High.
Dick's academic prowess was affirmed when the Army, in the 1950's,
selected him to attend the University of Southern California
for an Engineering Master's Degree in Jet Propulsion.
I always admired his taste in women, but on one occasion he
really out did himself. We were second lieutenants at Ft. Benning,
Georgia. A bunch of us spent a few days at Sea Island. We stayed
at a Coast Guard barracks, but spent our days at the very upscale
Cloisters Hotel. It was there that Dick met a very attractive
young woman from Richmond, Virginia named Kathryn Duling and
from that weekend came the union of Kitty and Dick which lasted
47 years and produced the family which includes Kathy, William,
and Carol.
My friendship with Dick has continued throughout the years.
We went together on the train to West Point and graduated together.
We went to the Infantry School and the Jump School at Fort Benning
and on the same ship to Germany for our first assignment. From
there we went in different directions. Dick went on to a varied
and successful career, 14 years as a soldier, 17 with GE in Aerospace,
8 with government in NASA and with the President's Science Advisor,
and finally, in retirement as an aerospace consultant. Dick was
very devoted to Kitty and their children. Visiting Dick during
his last days at the nursing home, he always had to talk about
his family. On the wall facing him, where he could always see
them, were their pictures. Dick was a determined man. When he
came down with Parkinson's Disease, he never stopped fighting
it. Dick was the perennial optimist. With him, the glass was
always half full. He was always upbeat and cheerful. He was not
capable of meanness or petty behavior. Dick was a very decent
human being, a gentle man who lived a good life. Since his death,
I got out my high school year book and looked up Richard Stone.
Above his picture I read the short note from him to me. It reads
'To my old pal, we certainly had a lot of fun, didn't we?'
Yes, Dick, we certainly did. God Bless You, Old Pal."
Second, from classmate and cadet roommate, Charlie
Daniel:
"Our main objectives as plebes were (1) survival and (2)
attracting as little attention from the upperclassmen as possible.
Dick in those high-pressure days demonstrated two of his most
characteristic attributes -- his unflappability and his great
inner strength. After our first year at West Point, I was invited
by Dick to room with him and Bill McMaster. I was delighted for
two reasons: First, both Bill and Dick were pretty congenial
and, second they had talents which I sensed were invaluable in
making it through the system; that is, Bill was unusually smart,
and Dick was the wise one. One of Dick's most endearing qualities
was his sensitivity and appreciation for the other fellow's point
of view. Dick could dissect and clarify issues which I might
consider too complex to be understood or might take at their
face value overlooking some of their more subtle aspects. I think
this rubbed off on me because in later years when presented with
a problem in leadership or management I often hearkened back
to his 'tain't necessarily-so' advice and my decisions were always
better on account of it.
On quite a few occasions in the latter part of our time together
at West Point, Dick would take time to provide me wise council
on balancing my preoccupation with my coming marriage and the
annoying demands of academics. His ability to bring me down to
earth helped me graduate and has earned my everlasting gratitude.
In fact, it was because of this ability that I asked him to be
Best Man at Ann's and my wedding.
The qualities which made him such a fine cadet continued to
manifest
themselves over the ensuing years. Dick gave unstintingly of
his time to causes which he felt could be helped by his support.
So we bid a fond farewell to a man whose qualities of calm resolve,
inner strength, native wisdom, integrity, and sincerity made
him such a valued friend and dedicated father and husband. While
he is not with us in person, he is alive with us in our hearts
and we will remember him always."
Third, from friend and neighbor, Mike Raring:
"This tribute comes from a friend and neighbor who knew
Dick Stone for only six years. But, the quality and strength
of Dick's character will be remembered by all of his friends
and neighbors long after this day.
First, there was his love of tennis. Dick was a tennis evangelist
in the truest sense. He and Kitty had hardly settled in before
turning his missionary zeal to the benefit of the aging inhabitants
of the community. He was unrelenting in his mission to tutor,
encourage, drill, cajole -- anything to nurture and strengthen
a growing faith -- until he firmly established a devoted congregation
that survives and flourishes today. How should anyone forget
the energy, humor and unselfishness with which Dick shared his
love of tennis with his friends and neighbors?
Away from the tennis court, Dick displayed further quality characteristics.
He brought wit, curiosity, knowledge, and grace to every social
occasion.
Finally, in his struggle against an unyielding illness, Dick
exhibited characteristically, the strength, courage, initiative,
and yes, even humor that we'd come to know and respect.
These memories of Dick will endure in lives of his friends and
neighbors."
Charlie Daniel used these treasured words to end
his eulogy, but the Class of 1946 is proud to use them to honor
one of its own. "Well Done, Dick; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Kitty
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