Howard E. Stone

Howard E. Stone Jr., M.D., 83, of Wenham, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and physician, died peacefully at Ledgewood Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility, Beverly, on August 19, 2024, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was the husband of Elizabeth Stone with whom he shared 60 years of marriage. Born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, Dr. Stone was the son of the late Elizabeth and H. Ernest Stone and brother of the late Jane E. Sibley.
After a happy childhood on Scotton's Lane in Ipswich, Stone graduated from the University of Massachusetts. He pursued his dream of becoming a medical doctor at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He began a residency in Internal Medicine at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut in June of 1967.
In September 1968 he was drafted into the United States Army. He served as Battalion Surgeon for the 8th Engineer Battalion, First Cavalry Division, for one year in Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam. He remained in the Army for a second year at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and was honorably discharged as a Captain.
After the Army he returned to Connecticut. Wishing to change his specialty to psychiatry, he asked his wife if she could endure three more years of residency. She agreed, and he joined the psychiatric team at University of Connecticut Medical Center. After his training he became an Asst. Professor of Psychiatry on the staff. He moved back to the North Shore of Massachusetts in 1975. Between 1975 and 1983, he treated patients at Danvers State Hospital, The Human Resources Institute, Hampstead Hospital, The Ipswich Clinic, and the North Shore Community Mental Health Center.
In 1983 he opened a private practice in his home town of Ipswich. His dedication to his patients was legendary. A teacher as well as a healer, his patients learned the causes of their illness, how and why he was treating them, and most important, that they should feel no shame. He read and researched avidly, and was promoting the medical benefits of Omega 3's, grass-fed milk, and flaxseed oil years before they were commonly known.
"Doc" Stone valued service to his community, never seeking recognition. At various times he served on the Wenham Board of Health, as the Wenham Police surgeon, as Medical Director of the Balter Institute, and as a member of the Human Rights Committee of The DesVeaux House in Hamilton.
Dr. Stone was devoted to his family and his life with them. His wife, children, many relatives, and friends will treasure memories of his steady love, support, guidance, sense of humor, and strength of character. He worked hard helping others and he found solace in peaceful practices. He loved mowing his lawn on the tractor, tending the garden and berries, and caring for his chickens and two goats.
One of "Doc's" great passions was baseball. He found much joy as coach of the Hamilton Generals of the Intertown Twilight League for a decade. He loved the players, the opponents, and his fellow coaches. He even loved the umpires. In 1991, he led the Generals to their first ITL championship since 1950.
He loved communing with his neighbors and his dry wit entertained Wenham's Porter Street for many years. It was even evident in Ledgewood where he spent the last year of his life. His family is most grateful to the staff, especially Robin Gwinn, and Care Dimensions Hospice for the loving care provided to him.
In addition to his wife he is survived by his son H. Ernest Stone and daughter-in-law Maura, of Essex, MA, daughter Jennifer Meserve and son-in-law Richard, of Falmouth, ME, and three granddaughters, Hannah Michaud of Boston, Katrina Meserve of Pike, New Hampshire, and Shannon Meserve of New York City.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Church Wenham, 1 Arbor Street, Wenham, on Saturday, September 7th at 10:00 am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 (www.caredimensions.org) or to a mental health organization of your choice. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.