Jerilyn Stone (1943–2020)

Jerilyn Landry Stone, known to most as “Jeri,” died at home of a heart attack on October 2, 2020. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Dr. Alan W. Stone of Burleith; her daughter, Phoebe Stone, son-in-law, Jason Jackowski, and grandson, Jacob Wren Stone Jackowski, all of Los Angeles; and her sister, Sandra Edwards, of Glastonbury, CT.

Jeri received her RN from the Grace New Haven School of Nursing at Yale Medical Center in 1963 and was a student there when she met Alan, then a young medical student. The couple moved to Washington, DC, in 1969 and lived “happily ever after” in Burleith. She then worked at Doctors’ Hospital on I Street where she quickly rose to Assistant Director of Nursing In-Service Education. While working as a nurse, she earned a BA in Psychology at GWU, where she was awarded Phi Beta Kappa in recognition of outstanding scholarship in 1974.

Jeri believed strongly in community involvement. In the 1970s, she became active in the Burleith Citizens Association, working on a variety of projects, joining the Board, and serving as the 35th president of the BCA from 1981–82. She and other active members of the BCA were invited to speak and meet with members of the Washington Post staff to discuss community issues and concerns. Issues of the time included: (1) negotiating with the developers of Hillandale to try to prevent traffic issues for Burleith and to preserve privacy for neighbors accustomed to living alongside the open acres upon which the large housing development was built; (2) community relations with Duke Ellington School; and, (3) neighborhood noise concerns. Jeri was proud of the work she and her neighbors did then and continue to do now. To quote from her final President’s Message in the Burleith Newsletter dated June 1982: “… more important to my mind is the reconfirmation of the importance of each individual’s effort. Communities ‘work’ because people work. They work alone or together in a cooperative manner to carry out traditions—to effect change.”  

In 1982, Jeri turned her focus to her family, proudly announcing in the same newsletter that she and Alan had welcomed a daughter, Phoebe, in March of 1982. A loving and devoted matriarch, Jeri focused all her energy on parenthood and family for a number of years.   

From 1998 until her retirement in 2015, Jeri served as the school nurse at St. Albans School, where she helped many students and staff and was much loved for her expertise, wisdom, compassion, humor, and judgement—the same traits that marked her service to her community and family. During her tenure at St. Albans, she was awarded the Headmaster’s Extra Mile award and the Parents’ Association Service  Award, both in recognition of her above-and-beyond contributions to the St. Albans community.

Jeri’s ashes were laid to rest at the St. Albans Cornerstone Garden in a private ceremony due to the current pandemic.

Jeri always placed great value on a good education—and she cherished the St. Albans community. Anyone wishing to honor her memory with gifts may make a donation in her honor to the St. Albans School or another educational institution.