Stanley L. Stone

Stanley L. Stone passed on July 14, 2017 in Tampa, FL at the age of 87. Stan is survived by his companion and wife of 36 yrs. Lois and son Richard Stone (Tampa, FL). Stan was predeceased by his daughter, Karen Stone; parents, Israel and Gertrude Stone, sisters Frances Herman, Emily Sansone-Sokoloff; and brother, Henry Stone, USMC. Stan was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1929. In August 1946, enlisted in the U.S. Army and sent to Korea, he was reported among the first to land in South Korea thereby preventing North Korea’s Army from taking hold of South Korea (before the Chinese got involved). In 1952 he graduated from the University of Miami (Miami, FL) with a BA in Journalism. He was employed in New York City by RCA Victor Records, in their Record Division. Recognized for his Communication talent Stan later was hired as the Associate Editor of the National Association of Life Underwriters (NALU) in Washington, DC. Three years later Stan was recruited to Florida in what was to become a 35 year career as Executive Director with Florida Association of Life Underwriters (FALU) now known as NAIFA. FALU’s beginning membership was 1,200 members, increasing to 9,600 members under his leadership (he was very proud of the work FALU members did) before retiring in 1995. During his tenure as FALU’s Executive Director he became a Charter Lifetime Member of the Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE). Stan was awarded the prestigious, “Executive of the Year” award by (FSAE). Stan was also recognized as the “FALU Executive of the Year” by his peers. Stan was instrumental in the FALU rising perennially to national prominence among the fifty state national associations. No grass grew under Stan’s feet after retirement as he continued his almost five decades of outdoor hobbies of tennis, traveling the world and fishing on his boat, the “Gung Ho”. During his retirement Stan did weddings for Carnival Cruise Lines for 16 yrs., over 1,800 couples with his wife Lois. Working with families to make a true memory of their wedding and cruise. Stan referred to these couples as 3,600 “I do’s. After a terminal cancer diagnosis, Stan repeatedly told his family and friends, “I’ve had a great life. What more can you ask for at 87 years old? In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to LifePath Hospice, 12470 Telecom Drive, Ste. 311, Temple Terrace, FL 33637, or the American Cancer Association.