Michael F. Stone was deeply committed to the city of Yarmouth, serving on the Select Board, the Recreation Commission, and as a coach and mentor to youth. He received high praise from city officials after he died of cancer on August 13.
“Mike Stone was truly an exceptional leader,” said City Manager Robert L. Whritenour. Before making a decision on any issue, “he always asked, ‘What does this mean for the city of Yarmouth?’ That was his litmus test.” In addition, Whritenour said, “he always did his best to unite the Select Board so that every member could have their say.”
Other current and former city officials spoke of Stone’s ability to listen to residents’ concerns, his commitment to youth and education, his diverse talents and interests, and his sense of humor.
Stone, 76, was chairman of the Select Board at the time of his death.
Yarmouth is the Cape’s third largest town and in the center of the Cape, it attracts a large tourist population each summer. It is also one of the oldest towns on Cape Cod, founded in 1639.
‘Putting us on the right track’
Mark Forest, a member of the Yarmouth Select Board for the past seven years, said in an email that “Mike liked to talk, but when he became chairman, he spent most of his time listening to what others had to say — especially our residents and taxpayers. He understood that we were elected to serve the people and he never let anyone forget that.”
Forest also said that Stone “was very good at building consensus on the board and he loved being on our board and serving the city.”
During Stone’s tenure, the Select Board developed a wastewater plan, a capital plan for the city’s water system and improvements to the city’s recreation programs, Forest said. “While his passing is a great loss to the entire community, he played a significant role in setting us on the right course,” he said.
Robert Lawton, Yarmouth’s former city manager for nearly 33 years, worked with Stone when he served on the Recreation Commission for more than 20 years. In a phone interview, he said, “He made it what it is today. He hired good people and looked at ‘what can we do to help the city?'”
He called Stone “the expert” in his role as chairman of the board, which approves liquor, entertainment and other permits. Lawton noted Stone’s work on a joint sewer project with nearby cities. “He probably sacrificed a lot of his time” for that effort, which never came to fruition, Lawton said, and Stone “brought a lot of stability and history to the board” because of his longtime involvement with the city.
Joyce Flynn, who was elected to the Yarmouth Select Board this year, said in an email that she first met Stone 12 years ago when he was campaigning for his first term on the Select Board. When she asked him about his views on public schools, she said they ended up having “an engaging 90-minute conversation that ranged from our shared roots in western Massachusetts to favorite authors and ended with women’s sports. Mike was an avid supporter of women’s basketball and shared memories of coaching and mentoring young women.”
Flynn added that Stone “could talk to anyone and loved to share a good story. Yarmouth will miss him dearly. But Mike’s stories and good deeds live on in the lives he touched.”
Campaigning at the landfill
Select Board member Tracy Post also recalled the times she and Stone campaigned for the board, waving signs at the city dump, where she witnessed his sense of humor. His family was always by his side during the campaign, she added.
Post described Stone as “very strong and purposeful in everything he did” and “his heart was always with the kids” at the Recreation Commission and as a coach on and off the field or court.
In a press release from the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District, School Committee Chairman Tomas Tolentino said, “Michael’s dedication to the city of Yarmouth in many capacities over 40 years has helped enrich so many of our students and families. He knew how important our students’ education was and fought to ensure they had the tools they needed. He will be truly missed.”
School Principal Marc J. Smith said, “Although I have only had the opportunity to work with Mike in my first year here at DY, his dedication to the community, his excellent administrative spirit and his care for Yarmouth and its residents were evident.”
Stone worked for 45 years as a trial attorney at the South Yarmouth law firm of Stone and Reid, along with partner David Reid.
After growing up in Springfield, where sports were a big part of his life, Stone graduated from Classical High School and St. Anselm’s College, where he played basketball. He earned a master’s degree in English from the University of New Hampshire and a juris doctorate from Western New England College. He had a passion for literature and was an accomplished writer, according to his obituary.
He and his wife of 46 years, Gail, raised their two daughters, Kara and Leah, in Yarmouth.
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This article originally appeared in Cape Cod Times: Yarmouth leaders recall Michael Stone for consensus goals, expertise
