Robert L. (Bob) Stone, Sr. passed away peacefully on October 12 after a life spent proving that you’ll never meet a stranger if you treat everyone as a friend.

Born in 1932 in Lyndonville, VT, Bob spent his youth in Hanover and Lebanon, NH. Fortunately for the many skiers he coached over the years, Bob failed to make the basketball team at Lebanon High School and went out for the ski team instead, where he wound up skiing for four years under coach Al Merrill.

Drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Bob liked to say that he “fought the Korean War in France.” He took full advantage of his time in the army to explore Europe and only got arrested once for “looking dangerous”, an absolute favorite out of the many stories he loved to tell.

On his return, Bob attended and skied for Paul Smith’s college and Western State College, where he earned his M.S. degree in guidance and counseling. He was a member of the 1958 International Ski Federation training squad, and of the 1959 U.S. Eastern Championship Relay Team. He was on the 1960 Olympic training squad and an official at both the 1960 games at Squaw Valley, CA, and the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, NY.

He began his college coaching career under Al Merrill as assistant Ski Coach at Dartmouth College, followed by five years as Varsity Ski Coach and Freshman Soccer Coach at the University of Vermont, where he took the UVM Ski team to their first official NCAAs after placing a miraculous 3rd in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association meet. Recognized as one of the leading Nordic ski coaches in the United States, Bob coached at several major training camps and assisted long-time mentor Al Merrill coaching the U.S. National ski team against some of the best competition in Europe at races in Norway and Finland.

After leaving UVM, Bob purchased the Rutledge Inn summer resort in Fairlee, VT with his wife Nancy, and managed the rental shop at Bolton Valley ski area in Bolton, Valley, VT. Bob stayed active in the ski world, officiating ski races around the northeast as well as coaching skiing and soccer for his kids and their friends at Fairlee Elementary and Oxbow High School.

During his years at the Inn, Bob (aka “Septic Man”) could be found proudly sporting his initials “BS” embroidered on his work shirts as he kept the 8-acre property that housed 100+ guests plus live-in staff well maintained. An avid photographer, he hosted a weekly slide show, entertaining guests with the Stone family adventures from the previous year.

Some of the favorite memories his children have of growing up at the Rutledge Inn, affectionately referred to as “The Rut,” were his days off when he took them to every parade, water park, alpine slide and tourist attraction within 50 miles of Fairlee. “We were truly fortunate to have been able to spend so much quality time with our dad.”

He was as active in his grandchildren’s lives as he was with his children. “Pops” regularly attended soccer games, band performances, tai kwon do tournaments, and any and everything his grandchildren were interested in.

He spent his retirement years with Nancy in Colchester, Vermont, followed by Tega Cay, SC where he spent his time golfing, enjoying social events including the Tega Cay Mens’ Breakfasts, and as an active member of several service organizations including the Elks Club, the Lions Club, and (particularly dear to him) as both a Third and Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus.

Bob was pre-deceased by his parents, Leo F. Stone and Althea (Deos) Stone, He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy (DesLauriers) Stone; two cousins, Sharon Deos and Phillip Deos; his three children, Michelle, Yvonne, and Robert, Jr.; and five amazing grandchildren, Amelia, Sam, David, Andrew and Gavin, who will all dearly miss their “Grumpa.”

Thank you, Bob, for bringing so much joy to so many people. We love you.

A funeral mass will be held at Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 11:30am.