TOPSFIELD – Dr. A. Howard Stone, 83, died Monday, October 1, 2018 at The Atrium at Veronica Drive, Danvers following an extended illness. He was the beloved husband of Dr. Donna Gibson Stone. Born in St. Albans, Vermont on April 27, 1935, he was the son of the late Arthur C. and Helen (Bemis) Stone.
He had resided in Beverly and Salem for many years before moving to Topsfield in 1984. He received both his undergraduate degree and medical degree from the University of Vermont. Dr. Stone was… Read More » also a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War for which he received several commendations.
Originally trained as a general practitioner, he returned from the service and did a second residency in psychiatry. For much of his career he was on staff at Beverly Hospital where he began the Leland Unit, served as Chief of Psychiatry and both Vice President, then President of the Medical Staff. Additionally he spent many years as head of the Credentials Committee.
Dr. Stone was a long distance runner. He often would tell his wife if he had to solve a problem he would “go for a run”. Though fiercely “back of the pack” he decided to run the Boston Marathon in 1985 to celebrate his 50th birthday.
When his last child was born in 1991, he chose to run again with his older son. Each event he clocked a respectable time which was a personal best for him. A lifelong Red Sox fan, he held weekend season tickets to Fenway Park.
In a family where there were some outliers, (namely Yankee fans) he was known to engage in spirited discussions resorting to the famous “Stone family sense of humor” a loving but robust exchange laced with sarcasm, wit and inevitable bad pun. He was much loved by his family, friends and patients. In addition to his wife of thirty four years, he is survived by his three children, Scott A. Stone and his wife, Jana of Boxford, Karen J. Stone of Hamilton and Greg T. Stone and his fiancée, Danielle Rohloff both of Topsfield; one granddaughter, Emma J. McLaughlin of Hamilton and many nieces and nephews.
He was also predeceased by his brother, Arthur Stone and three sisters, Marion Straehley, Katherine Davidson and Eleanor Lewis. A graveside service will be held for Dr. Stone at the Pine Grove Cemetery, 8 Haverhill Road, (Rte. 97) Topsfield, Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a celebration of his life at Teresa’s Italian Eatery, 149 South Main St., Middleton from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visiting hours will be held on Friday at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. , 309 Waverley Oaks Rd. , Waltham, MA 02452.
Information, directions and condolences at www. campbellfuneral.com .
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