Alex David Stone

Alex David Stone brought his light into the world on December 31, 1980. From the moment of his birth, he was a gift to everyone who knew him. His tremendous kindness and tender spirit were hallmarks of his personality. He believed strongly in being a fundamentally good human and caring for others, qualities he demonstrated in every aspect of his life. His patience, level-headedness and thoughtfulness shone through from the moment you met him. Alex spent his early years in the woods of NH, which he and his younger siblings considered their playground. Those early years were spent riding bikes and playing in “forts” throughout the property. He always had a big imagination and curiosity about the world around him. Despite his outwardly serious demeanor – his family often joked that he was born 65 years old – he enjoyed some troublemaking teenage years with his friends. Always managing to avoid getting caught or injured, he later told many stories of “near misses” from his adventures. He also took great pride in getting the attendance policy changed at Conant High School by outwitting the administration on a technicality in the student handbook. He graduated in the Class of 1999 among many friends. Because of his early and full facial hair by the age of 15, his friends nicknamed him “Abe,” “Ivan” and “the Russian.” He was proud of his beard and kept it until the end. From his first job at the Monadnock Inn, where he worked in the kitchen, he demonstrated a strong and dedicated work ethic. Notoriously responsible, and always arriving early, he was an extremely reliable worker. Alex wisely chose to make his hobby of “tinkering” with computers into his career, successfully working in information technology for over 20 years. Most recently, he worked for the Amherst-Mont Vernon SAU39 School District as their Director of Technology, a job and community he cherished despite his short time there. The family would like to thank the school district for their incredible support in recent months. Those who knew Alex well were regularly impressed with his incredibly sharp wit. He always had a smart response and often surprised people with his sarcastic remarks. But once he shared that side with you, and once you saw the special twinkle in his eye, you knew you were in with him. His sense of humor only increased through his years, often showcased at game nights with family and friends, but also present in the smaller moments of his daily life. For a strong and stocky person, he had a giggle that was contagious. His curiosity and sense of adventure stayed with him through adulthood. While he disliked flying, he was delighted by trains. In 2006, he went on a trip across Europe – from France to Switzerland, Germany and Austria – all by rail. Rather than flying to the mid-west for a cousin’s wedding, he and his family took a train halfway across the country. There were railroad tracks by his home, and on several occasions, he jumped on the slow-moving industrial trains, just for the fun of it. Alex was not an impulsive person, except when it came to cars. He once went in to have his snow tires changed and left with new cars for himself and Abbey. He enjoyed having a new “toy” every few years, and it became a running joke that “Alex got another new car.” Always finding the fresh air healing, Alex enjoyed the great outdoors by hiking and going for walks in the woods. He could also be engaged in conversations about science, technology, and the social commentary of Star Trek. He cared deeply about human rights, no matter what race, religion, sexuality or socio-economic status. In fact, you were often more likely to win his favor if you, like he, had to overcome some hardships in life. He never wished suffering on anyone, but understood and appreciated how resilience could shape the human spirit. In 2014, Alex was diagnosed with stage four neuroendocrine tumors, a rare form of cancer. The family expresses their deepest gratitude to his care team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who provided him with exceptional treatment. He lived with cancer for six years, which he filled with happy memories and adventures with his loved ones. He passed away on October 8, 2020. Alex’s greatest joy was his family, and especially his wife of ten years, Abbey, and daughter, McKayla. They were his whole world and he loved them beyond measure. Their family enjoyed regular visits to the ocean in Maine and mountains of New Hampshire for family vacations. He is also survived and profoundly missed by his parents Mark Stone (and stepmother Karen) of Rowley, MA, and Diane Mazejka (and stepfather Steve) of Rindge, NH, his grandmother, Bertha Robichaud of Jaffrey, NH, and his two younger siblings, Zack Stone (and partner Leah Astore) of Jaffrey, NH, and Erin Ericson (and husband Ben) of Salem, NH. He leaves many other loving relatives and friends, far too many to name. Memorial visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 16 from 4-7pm at the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. The family will have a private celebration of life on Saturday. Those attending are asked to adhere to current guidelines by wearing a mask and observing social distancing. In lieu of flowers, McKayla's grandparents have set up a memorial fund for her to honor Alex's memory. Donations can be made payable to Monica Lemaire and mailed to 141 Indian Village Road, Shapleigh, ME 04076.