Thomas F. Stone
Longtime Santa Barbara resident Thomas F. Stone passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 5, 2021. Tom was born to Frank and Louise (Parkhurst) Stone in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1943. He attended the University of Iowa for both undergraduate and law school where he enjoyed hijinks with his brothers in Sigma Chi, was elected senator at-large and, as a side benefit, received an excellent education. Appropriately, his father was a straight-laced professor (and later dean) of education at the University.
Tom hated the Iowa winter weather so he set his sights on a more pleasant climate. While driving down the California coast searching for just such a place, he and his then-wife Gayle Lynds, fell in love with Santa Barbara, where they moved in 1969, just in time for that year’s infamous oil spill.
In 1974 Tom returned to Iowa for a week to join friends for the second-ever RAGBRI endurance ride. His love of cycling continued throughout his life, including a brief stint as an amateur criterium racer. He also discovered a love for hiking in California’s mountains. The literal highpoint was when he climbed Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.
When Tom first arrived in Santa Barbara he joined the Hatch and Parent law firm as an associate and later opened his own practice. Among other clients, he represented the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District, the Santa Barbara Redevelopment Agency, and the Polo Club. He gave of his time freely serving on the Transition House Board, and volunteering for the Legal Aid Foundation, and other charities before his retirement.
Tom met, then in 1998 married the love of his life, Alexandra (Sandy) Leslie. Tom had a deep love for music, which was shown by his insistence on using Dave Brubek’s “Take Five” as his ringtone long after it was fashionable to have customized ringtones. So Tom and Alexandra’s pairing made special sense because Alexandra was an outstanding musician. Together they were active in the effort to preserve the San Marcos foothills and Tom served as Vice President and Director of the Coalition. They also were part of the Santa Barbara Zen Center and practicing Buddhists. They took long walks where Tom continued to explore his love of photography.
Tom and Alexandra moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in 2017 to retire and after Alexandra’s passing, Tom moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland, to live two blocks from his family.
Tom is survived by his son Paul, his daughter Julia, his daughter-in-law Katrina, his son-in-law Kari Timonen, and his grandchildren Sophia Stone and Finn Thomas Timonen. He is also survived by his step-daughters Jennifer, Susan, Linda, Pam, and by a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren whom Alexandra brought into his life.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the scholarship fund established at the University of Iowa. Checks should be made out to the UI Center for Advancement and note in the memo line the name of the fund “Franklin D. and Louise P. Stone International Scholarship (30-350-027)” and “in memory of Thomas F. Stone.” Checks should be mailed to the attention of Callie Murry at One West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242. For online donations go to the University’s “Give to Iowa” site at https://tinyurl.com/y7tkm684. Search for and select “other” areas to support and click next. Then type in “Franklin D. and Louise P. Stone International Scholarship” in the box asking where the contribution should be directed. A virtual memorial service is being planned, if you would like notification of the service please email tomstonememorial@gmail.com.