Ilene Stone

Ilene Stone

OBITUARY

Surrounded by her family, Ilene Stone, beloved wife, mother, and Nanu, passed away from pancreatic cancer. She was 79.

Ilene was born in Brooklyn, NY to Harry and Frances Schutzman and moved to San Diego at the age of 7. Ilene went to school locally, and obtained both her Bachelors and Masters degrees at San Diego State University. It was among the study carrels of SDSU’s library where she met her future husband, Jeff Stone. Ilene and Jeff fell in love as they researched their Master’s Theses, both relying on the same resources to write about two Revolutionary War figures who despised each other: Silas Dean and Henry Laurens. Ilene and Jeff married in September 1969, more than 55 years ago.

After college, Ilene started an almost 30-year career as an instructor at San Diego Community College’s evening program, teaching American History. As an instructor, Ilene was a true storyteller, sharing the saga of our country in her own engaging and enduring way.

Following her teaching career, Ilene happened across the movie With a Song In My Heart, which was the Hollywood version of the life of Jane Froman, a famous songstress whose career lasted from the 1930s into the 1960s. Wanting to learn more about Jane, Ilene discovered there had been very little written about her. Ilene corrected that omission by travelling to Columbia, Missouri several times (Jane’s papers were housed at the University of Missouri and Columbia College) to research and document Jane’s life. Ilene ultimately wrote two books about Jane, one of which was published by the University’s Press. During her time in Columbia, Ilene (and Jeff) made many new friends, most of whom had been part of Jane’s life.

Ilene enjoyed travel – France, Alaska, Berkeley (for college baseball) and Los Angeles (but only because her two children and grandchildren lived there). Above all, though, Ilene was a lifelong Padres fanatic who enjoyed attending their games, in Yuma, at the Murph and then later at Petco Park. Most recently, Ilene absolutely loved watching the Pads on the giant TV in her assisted living apartment.

Devoted to her family, friends, and especially her grandsons, Ilene is survived by her husband Jeff, son Rob, daughter Hallie, daughter-in-law Lisa, grandsons Alden and Hudson and brother Jay. Ilene will be forever loved, remembered and cherished by those who held her closest.

Graveside services will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park on Friday, December 20th at 12noon.

Donations in Ilene’s memory can be made to the Jane Froman Smith Memorial Scholarship at Columbia College using the following link: https://my.ccis.edu/froman