The world has lost a great and wise man with the death of Dr. Robert Stone on December 18, 1966. He died at the age of 71 of cancer, the disease with which he was concerned for most of his life.

Dr. Stone was born in Chatam, Ontario, Canada on June 5, 1895. He received his B.S., MA, M.B, and M.D. all from the University of Toronto between 1919 and 1928. In Peking, China, he served as an Assistant in anatomy at the Peking Union Medical School from 1919 to 1921. His internship was served at Grace Hospital from 1924 to 1925 and he practiced Radiology at the Grace Hospital in Detroit with Dr. Roland H. Stevens from 1925 to 1928.

He came to the University of California as an Instructor in Radiology in 1928 and rose to Professor there in 1938. In 1939, he became Chairman of the Department of Radiology and served in this capacity from 1939 to 1943 and from 1946 to 1962, the time of his retirement.

From 1942 to 1946 he was on leave of absence from the University as Associate Project Director of Health of the Metallurgical Project and as visiting Professor of Roentgenology at the University of Chicago. Dr. Stone was the first Chief of Staff at the University of Califormia Hospital from 1954 to 1958. He was instrumental in bringing the Radiological Laboratory to the University in 1951 and served as its Director from 1951 to 1964. It was in this Laboratory that the work on the 70 million volt Synchrotron was done. After his retirement in 1962, he was recalled as Professor Emeritus with the University of California School of Medicine. Until his death, he continued working in the Laboratory.

During Dr. StoneÆs long, productive life, he was author or co-author of 60 scientific publications. In his quiet way, he had a profound influence on the field of radiation therapy. He, with J. T. Hamilton, was the first to administer artificial radioactive substances with therapeutic intent He was the first to do million volt therapy, neutron therapy, and therapy with 70 million volt Synchrotron. Each of these accomplishments was a highly significant advance in the field.

Dr. Stone was highly honored during his lifetime. He received these justly bestowed marks of distinction with humility. He held honorary memberships in the Cancer Society of Guadalajara College of Physicians in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Roentgen Society, Royal Society of Medicine in London, the Canadian Association of Radiologists, and Alpha Omega Alpha. He was given the highest United States civilian award, the Medal of Merit for wartime work in the Metallurgical Project in 1946.

He also received the Gold Medal of the Radiological Society of North America, the Janeway Medal of the American Radium Society, the Medal of the American Cancer Society for cancer control, the Gold Medal of the American College of Radiology, the Gold Medal of Citation from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and an honorary L. L.D. conferred by the University of California in 1956. He was the Pancoast lecturer 1946, the Carmen Lecturer in 1951, and the Gordon Richard Memorial Lecturer in1960. Dr. Stone served with distinction on many committees on the local, state, national, and intentional levels.

Dr. Stone was survived by his wife Willemina, his son Robert, and daughter Margaret.

Throughout his life, Dr. Stone was characterized by his thoughtfulness, compassion, tolerance, kindness, and honesty. His great wisdom and profound understanding of basic problems made him sought by many for his advice. He was partisan only to the truth and because of it, he received respect of all. He was the "Dean" of Radiology because of his sound judgment. As a man, he inspired great loyalty among those with whom he worked. He work his halos modestly.