Miriam Stone

Miriam Ann Stone, 83, passed away peacefully at the Roscoe Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Oct. 27.

She was born Jan. 14, 1939, to her parents Rex I. Whitmore and Marion E. (nee O’Leary) Whitmore in Burlington, Wisconsin.

She was raised on a purebred seedstock swine farm, and raised and showed pigs at county and state fairs and in national competitions. She graduated in1957 from East Troy (Wisconsin) High School. She then attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Related Arts.

After graduation from UW-Madison, she began a long career in the apparel industry. She began in 1961 at Marshall Field’s & Company in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.  She was quickly promoted to become women’s couture buyer of the 28 Shop at Marshall Field’s and took on additional responsibilities at Marshall Field’s & Company in Chicago.

In 1973 she moved to Washington, D.C. to become a divisional merchandise manager at the Hecht Company. While working at the Hecht Company she met Sandy Stone, the love of her life. She moved to New York City where she worked in apparel buying and merchandising positions for Bonwit Teller and later Montaldo’s.

Miriam and Sandy were married in 1978 and lived on the upper West Side of New York. They spent many happy weekends in Roscoe, New York, where Sandy had fly-fished the Beaverkill for years before they were married.

They purchased and renovated an old farmhouse and several acres in Lew Beach, New York. What started as a weekend getaway became their permanent home after they retired from their jobs in the city.

In Lew Beach and Roscoe, they would enjoy their passions of fly-fishing, attending antique auctions, gardening and decorating their beautiful farmhouse. Miriam was skilled in landscape architecture and also was a talented cook. The couple frequently entertained family and friends.

After retiring from his job with Albert Nippon Boutique in New York City, Sandy Stone started Stone Realty in Roscoe. And Miriam would establish an antique shop in Roscoe called the Fisherman’s Wife followed by a decorative home and gift shop called Annie’s Place, named after her beloved Cocker Spaniel. She had two other Cockers, Willie and Andy.

Miriam loved Roscoe with its rich history. She worked to promote the village and its business through her work with the Roscoe Chamber of Commerce. She served from 1999 to 2015, with the exception of one year, as president of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. She also served as a supervisor in the Town of Hardenburgh.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sandy Stone; her mother-in-law, Anne Stone; and brother, Brian Whitmore.

She is survived by her stepdaughters Leslie Stone Lonergan of Boston; Audrey (Bill) Lemberg of Brooklyn, New York; brother Alan (Deborah) Whitmore of Fox Point, Wisconsin; and Lynn (Richard) Grooms of Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin; one sister, Lynn Whitmore; and sister-in-law, Mary Ann Whitmore of Burlington, Wisconsin. She also is survived by two nieces, two nephews; and four grandchildren.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 10AM to 12 Noon in the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave. Roscoe, NY.  Funeral services will be at 12 Noon in the funeral home. Pastor Shelley Eggleton will officiate.

Burial will immediately follow the service at the Lew Beach Cemetery in Lew Beach, New York. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Miriam’s name to the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, P.O. Box 1295, Livingston Manor, NY 12758.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave. Roscoe, NY.  607-498-4929 or 845-439-5200 www.Harris-FH.com