Noel Stone

Noel Robert Stone died peacefully at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, New Mexico on Saturday, January 1, 2022.

Mr. Stone was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on December 25, 1929.  He was the youngest of the five children of Walter and Veronica Stone.  He was a graduate of Teaneck High School.  He attended Patterson State Teachers College, graduating with a degree in Education. Mr. Stone was too young to serve in WWII.  However, he subsequently served in the Army National Guard for 7 years, receiving an honorable discharge with the rank of Lieutenant. 

Shortly after graduating college, a family friend, Jack Valentine, facilitated an interview for him with the J.C. Penney Company in New York City.  He was hired as a buyer’s assistant, eventually working his way up to being the Head Buyer for Women’s Wear for the United States.  He worked with Mary Quant at one time.  As much as he loved his job, his heart was always in San Francisco.

He interviewed with the Levi Strauss company for the position of Head of Women’s Sportswear.  How could they say no?  He was hired in 1967 and to California he went.

Even though he moved to San Francisco during the summer of love, Mr. Stone was born too early to have been part of the Hippie movement.  However, as a gay man, he was in his element in San Francisco.      Within a few years, he decided a change of careers was needed.  His friends in Los Angeles convinced him to move to LA, and after an apprenticeship with a Master Carpenter, he set up shop as a General Contractor.  He had 1000 leaflets printed and handed them out all around his neighborhood.  He never looked for work again! It came to him.  This became his passion.  The planning and designing and remodeling of houses brought out his creative side.         

On a visit to a friend in Valdez in the mid-1980s, Mr. Stone fell in love with it.  He started the process to move here, finished up all his work in LA, and moved to Valdez in 1991.  He bought this property on Broadbent Road and began the process of building the main house, the guest house, and the Bunk House.  They’re all rustic works of art with the most incredible mountain views imaginable.

Mr. Stone was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers William Jay; Donald Gerard; sister Joan Theresa, and his nephew, Lawrence Jay Stone.

He is survived by his nephews Douglas Stone and Christopher Stone; and nieces Barbara Stone (McGroary), Lesile Stone, Virginia Stone (Condello), and Laura  Stone (Claxon), along with 7 great-nieces and good friends too numerous to mention here.  Tout a l’heure.  Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home, Taos.  To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com