STEPHEN STONE 1928 - 2020

Stephen L. Stone, formerly of Eugene, died on May 30th, 2020, at his home in Portland. He was 92. Steve’s enthusiasm and love of music and musical scholarship inspired thousands of people, students, and listeners alike, over seven decades, leaving an indelible imprint on his home state of Oregon.

Steve was born in Klamath Falls, where his mother, Buena Cobb Stone, was an elementary school principal, author, and Native American historian. His father, Louis “Hub” Stone, was a farmer and barbershop singer.

Steve attended Oregon State University to study engineering. He soon figured out, however, that his passion was for music, and transferred to the University of Oregon to pursue music education. Steve eventually would earn his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Oregon School of Music.

After receiving his bachelor’s in 1948, he taught elementary school in Dayton, Oregon, before enlisting in the US Navy. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Oriskani, and later served as a postmaster in Guam, where he met a number of men who would become lifelong friends.

After the service, Steve returned to Klamath Falls to teach music, before being hired as choral director at Beaverton High School in the late 1950’s, forming friendships with many students that endured the rest of his life. In 1968, Steve was hired as choral director of the newly opened Aloha High School. Steve often recalled the powerful bonds that formed between students and teachers during the social upheaval of the Vietnam era. Aloha was an experimental high school, which allowed Steve to write his own curriculum and create challenging, innovative choral and musical theater programs for his students. While teaching at Aloha, Steve commuted to the University of Oregon, where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1973.

Three years later, he left Aloha when he was hired as assistant to the dean of the UO’s School of Music and Dance, working alongside his friend and colleague, Dean Maurice Rider. He would add to his title that of associate professor of jazz history, choral music, and music education. Steve served as manager for the School of Music’s Chamber Music Series, bringing more that 80 internationally known chamber groups to Eugene. He Directed several UO choral groups, including the University Chorale, the Contemporary Chorus, and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. In 1982, he and colleague Janet Descutner founded the University Song & Dance Troupe. He taught extensively in the field of jazz history and popular music, wrote several articles on popular music, and produced “Jazz Songbook,” a series of weekly radio programs that aired on KWAX.

After retiring from UO in the mid-’90’s, he joined the Oregon Festival of American Music, where he would co-found the Emerald City Jazz Kings, a band he would direct until his retirement in 2012 at age

84. In all, he produced 51 shows dedicated to the performance and education of 20th Century American popular song.

Steve was preceded in death by his wife, the love of his life, Suzanne (Finzer) Stone in 2001. He is survived by his son Michael Stone, son and daughter-in-law David and Julie Stone, and grandchildren Benjamin and Anna Stone.

In addition to Steve’s time at teaching, he served on the OMEA board in various capacities spanning from 1963 - 1996.

State OMEA Board positions held by Steve Stone:

• 1963-66 - Vocal Chair

• 1966-68 - 2nd Vice-President*

• 1969-72 - 1st Vice-President **

• 1972-74 - President

• 1988-90 - Collegiate Chair

• 1994-96 - Retired Member Chair

Over the decades as OMEA evolved, some of the above positions and their terms have changed from the current board’s policies. Below are some details provided on the changes by our OMEA Historian, Dave Becker:

* The OMEA 2nd Vice President’s responsibilities during the 1970s and 1980s were primarily to run the State Solo Contest. OSAA was only involved in sanctioning it, purchasing and presenting the award medals. All the logistics, scheduling, registration fees were done by the 2nd VP. I’m not sure when this role for 2nd VP started, but Steve’s years as 2nd VP coincide with the State Solo Contest restarting as an official, sanctioned event by OMEA (1966 & 1967). John McManus got that going and I suspect that Steve may have chaired it or at least been very involved.

** At MENC’s (now NAfME) request, election of officers was shifted to even-numbered years. This lengthened the present officer’s 2-year terms to 3 years this one time only.

To see photos and read the expanded obituary, please check out Steve’s web page: stevestonememorial.com