William J. Stone, MD
August 1, 1936 - May 11, 2020
William J. Stone MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, passed away on Monday, May 11 at his home with family at his side. He was born August 1, 1936 in Washington D. C. the son of Dr. William Spencer Stone and Louise Rankin Stone. Dr. Stone followed in the footsteps of his father who served for 25 years as an army physician and 17 years as dean of University of Maryland Medical School. Dr. Stone received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1957. He earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed his medical residency at Vanderbilt University where he served as chief resident. He then went on to complete a nephrology fellowship at Cornell University. After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, including a tour as a physician in Vietnam, Dr. Stone returned to Nashville where his mother, Louise Rankin, was born and raised. Dr. Stone was a legend in the Vanderbilt Department of Medicine. He served for over fifty years as Professor of Medicine, and he was beloved for his outstanding clinical leadership and commitment to training medical students, residents and nephrology fellows. He was appreciated for his mentorship and admired for his skill in crafting medical limericks. He dedicated his life to serving veterans at the Nashville Veterans Administration Medical Center. His efforts were memorialized recently by the dedication of the VA Dialysis Unit in his name. As a man of great faith he enjoyed participating in a weekly Bible study group and church at Christ Presbyterian Church. He was an avid sports enthusiast who continued to play basketball with his trainees well into his sixties. He attended Vandy baseball games regularly. He loved and supported his family in all endeavors. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Libby) Roberson Stone and their three children, Kathryn Stone Rohrman (Justin), Brian David Stone and Lauren Stone Hollingsworth (Mark), and four grandchildren, and five nephews.
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