NYYC Commodore Robert G. Stone Jr.- obituary

by Michael Levitt on 21 Apr 2006 Former-New York Yacht Club (NYYC) Commodore Robert G. Stone Jr. died April 18th of complications following a stroke. Commodore Stone, age 83, was the 48th commodore of the NYYC who served in this capacity from 1981-83.

Stone was, says the Harvard Gazette, 'The preeminent figure in the Harvard alumni community and a trusted advisor to three Harvard presidents.' He was also national co-chair of the University Campaign, concluded in 1999, that raised $2.6 billion for Harvard, a record. For 27 years, he also served on the Harvard Corporation, the university’s highest governing body.

He entered the university in 1941. He studied economics. His student tenure was interrupted by World War II where he served in the Army. After the War, he returned to Harvard to graduate but not before captaining the heavyweight crew in 1947 that set a world record over 2,000 meters. Stone was president and chairman of States Marine Lines and chairman of the Kirby Corporation and of General Energy Corporation. He also chaired the board of trustees at Mystic Seaport Museum and was a trustee of the National Rowing Foundation.

He had long campaigned Arcadia, a 69-foot McCurdy & Rhodes ocean racer. An earlier Arcadia won the 1985 Nathanael Greene Herreshoff Medal – the club’s highest award. From 1988-2003 Commodore Stone chaired the NYYC’s Nominating Committee that nominated commodores, chairs of the Sailing, Race, House and Membership committees and classes for election as trustees.

In 2003, he was presented the New York Yacht Club Medal – only the 12th recipient. The scroll accompanying the medal read, 'We, the undersigned, honor your outstanding contributions to the New York Yacht Club over four decades in the club’s most important offices, including Secretary, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore and Commodore. Your leadership has benefited the club in the America's Cup events, in the acquisition of Harbour Court and most profoundly, in your chairmanship of the Nominating Committee for the past fifteen years. The award of the New York Yacht Club Medal expresses our gratitude, and that of the entire membership, for your dedicated service.' It was signed by the three flag officers that served then: Commodore Lawrence S. Huntington, Vice Commodore George R. Hinman Jr. and Rear Commodore Charles H. Townsend.