Sensei Jim.

That who he will always be to me.

He taught us how to defend ourselves. 

And as a man he was an example of how to live with honor.

Everyone who knew him is better. 

Love you forever, Jim

Dear Lorna, Erin, Tina, and Victoria

Please forgive me for posting this note so belated. This was a case of me writing it at the time and thinking I copied it to the site. However, I just realized tonight that I had not done so.

The right words fail us in trying to express our sadness at Jim’s passing. While not unexpected, given the extent of his illness and the many years he spent bravely fighting the disease, it‘s still a shock when his battle draws to a close. Jim has to be the bravest person I knew, given what he had to face.

We have been family friends since before our kids were born. Paul was my best friend and that was an honour that ended far to soon with his passing over 10 years ago.

Please accept our deepest condolences and if there’s anything we can do to help you during these difficult times, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Jim and Linda Goessinger

I met Jim in 1996 when I joined MDHS in Grade 11. We were in the same grade. Jim was a great friend. He related to everyone and made each person feel like they mattered. He was always excited to see his friends. He had an energy and vitality, for life and friendships and conversation. He was talented in so many ways. He touched everyone around him with his gentle confidence and light-heartedness. I have fond memories laughing in the back of OAC Calculus class and Mr. Quinlan's Chemistry class, hanging out in the MDHS library, standing in line for the first midnight showing of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, being astounded by his euchre skills, and playing Goldeneye at his house with Marco and Kurt. Jim was someone you could count on, someone who made you feel like everything was going to be okay. Jim is dearly missed and remembered by so many. He lives brightly in our memory. My deepest condolences. 

-- Girish (MDHS Class of '99)

Dear Victoria, Tina, Lorna, and Erin,

Whenever I think of Jim, I can’t help but smile. To me, he was always Jimmy or Jim — a genuine, thoughtful friend, funny, kind, and simply one of the nicest people I’ve known.

Looking back now, I realize just how lucky I was to have grown up on Richwood Drive. We had a little neighbourhood of wonderful friends our own age, and I remember so clearly how we’d ring each other’s doorbells, asking if Jimmy and Matthew were free to play. I was at House 5, Jim at House 9, and Matthew at House 11 — we used to laugh that Jim was the Stone between Wright and Wong, a play on “right” and “wrong.”

We all attended William Armstrong Public School, just across the street. At the end of each school day, we’d race home, seeing who could get back first.

One summer — I think it was around Grades 3 or 4 — Jim and Matt came up with an elaborate idea: magnetic cars on magnetic roads. They explained to me, with such excitement, how opposite charges could make the cars levitate, and how combining the magnets could propel the cars forward. We even ran bake sales and garage sales to raise money for this invention! It was such a fun summer, even though we never made it onto Dragon’s Den.

Of course, everyone knows Erin for her beautiful singing voice. When The Little Mermaid came out in 1989, I was obsessed, and Erin would happily sing Part of Your World for me over and over when we played Barbies. I always thought of her as the family singer. But one holiday concert at William Armstrong — maybe Grade 7 or 8 — I was completely surprised to see Jim on stage, singing O Holy Night a cappella. I had never heard that song before, and the sweetness and soulfulness of his voice sent chills down my spine. In that moment, I realized: the Stones were a singing family.

(continuation in the comments)

I knew Jim through his father Paul, 20 years ago.  It did not take me long to realize that Jim had so many great qualities that I admired. Years later, I recruited  him to join our shop, and he did join to my delight.  He was so smart and hardworking, the extra  special part was the integrity and honesty, not all that common in the investment business.

I also want to pay tribute to Paul Stone, his father, a man that I deeply admire, a cornerstone of my career, and to Lorna, the mother of Jim, a very special lady, that I bonded so easily with.  

Jim´s life was cut off early.   Too soon gone, I have to rejoice that he grew in a truly special family!  He will never be forgotten.

Mortgage Investment Team Christmas Picture - December, 2019

I moved in next door to you in July 1983. I was two and you had just turned three. It was perfect. We were automatic best friends. We were effectively siblings, and our parents took turns looking after us. “Matthew and Jimmy” were a unit. We spent so much time running around our driveways and backyards in those early years, with other neighbours Jessica, Andrea, and our younger siblings. 

I remember playing Nintendo at my house, and Sega Master System at yours. We had it all.

I remember the day you cut your head open by running into a brick wall. You were collecting potato bugs.

I remember the day you were playing in your mom’s car in the garage (for the record I was saying it was a bad idea), and you somehow put it into neutral and it rolled back into the closed garage door.

I remember going to some kind of a daycare or camp with you in Box Grove. It was strange and scary, but we were together, so I was okay.

I remember the both of us being dropped off at your family’s church one evening, where we were in the basement with a bunch of other kids, being fed and entertained. This is where I had my first religious experience, watching The Empire Strikes Back and hearing Yoda explain The Force.  I’m not sure the organizers thought their movie choice through completely.

I remember when we were told that we had to go to kindergarten, and wouldn’t be able to ride our big wheels around all day any more. I remember this being my first existential crisis.
But when we went to kindergarten, we made new friends in Kurt and others.
I remember our teacher separating us for being too much to handle as a unit.

I remember one year getting an enormous amount of snow and building snow forts and tunnel systems in our front yards. We stood in the street to prevent the snow plows from removing parts of our work.

(Cont'd in comments)

Looking back, I have to confess most of my memories of Jim were when he was a youngster. Living side by side with Lorna and Paul and Erin and Jimmy, he would come over and visit me in my garage where I was engaged in something I likely knew nothing about. He would ask questions and then more questions and then more questions and I would try to appease an inquiring mind. Or I would see him at birthday parties/outings or on play days when he and Matthew would choose a house and play there. Sometimes it wound up in disagreements, two strong personalities, other  times they didn't want the experience to end. As time went on and they both grew, parental involvement lessened. They each became involved in their own lives and learning experiences. I have to say, as neighbours we both kept our children pretty busy at swimming lessons, martial arts, skiing or piano lessons or dozens of other activities to prepare them for an increasingly competitive world. Busy schedules meant less and less contact. However,  I did run into Jim around town and he was always unfailingly polite and approachable with that wide smile. I am sorry I did not get to know Jim, the man, except through stories from his Mom or Paul. It is so sad to see such a strong and smart fellow become a victim to this terrible disease. As Lorna kept us apprised of his continuing battle with cancer, it was also hard to believe how much he endured and the strength it must have taken to fight on. But that was the nature of the boy and the man - he was a fighter and he never gave up until his body could simply not take any more. I know Paul was there to proudly welcome Jim to the other world. As well as his grandfathers and all his other relatives. And, finally Jimmy is able to rest and not have to fight so hard any more.

Like everybody else,  with a tremendously heavy heart, I’m thinking of Tina, Lorna, Erin  and little Victoria. 
When Victoria was born and the difficult time afterwards, remember we called her “joy bubbles” because she brought a lot of much needed joy into the family.

When I used to go over to visit our Gram she would always say how very proud she was of you. All the things that you had accomplished and how you handled the struggles. She used to say that you had a  similar demeanour as your dad. I think that’s the highest of compliments. So did she.
She said what a good dad you were and how you went to work and had medical appts after. You still took Victoria to the park and how you tried to be the best dad, no matter how you felt. 

As a collective, our family will miss you. We’re all individually thinking of your family. It’s just so sad. 

 I hope you’re with your dad and Grammy right now.
If you can’t be here, I hope you’re with them.
Either way you’re loved. 
 
Xo

My heartfelt condolences to Jim's family. Jim's warm and friendly personality is what I remember of him. I didn't know Jim as well as some of my colleagues as I'm fairly new to the organization, but I know he was always so nice to everyone and listened to everyone's opinions equally. It was always fun to chat with him on the days he would come by our desks and ask us how things are going. He even taught me some moves on the Rubik's cube, because I had an unsolved one on my desk. I would have never known he was fighting such a battle, because he seemed cheerful and was engaged when we spoke. He was a great colleague, a master at Excel, and was eager to discuss model improvements. He was always willing to help out his colleagues if we needed him. He left behind a legacy of things he worked on and improved at the organization. He was well-respected and will be missed. Hope he can now rest peacefully.

With Jim being one of the older cousins, I always looked up to him - he was smart, kind, and had a great sense of humour (a trait inherited across the generations of Stones). I have many cherished memories of family gatherings with all of the cousins, many of which Jim would be teaching us younger cousins things or beating us at a game of cards or trivia. You will be greatly missed, Jim - may you be at peace with your Dad (Uncle Paul) and Gram.

Dear Tina, Victoria, Aunt Lorna, and Erin, 

I'm so sorry for the loss of Jim, he was so special.  I've been reflecting on many of the memories that we had when we were kids - particularly raking up leaves and jumping in the big piles at Grammy's Thanksgiving, or playing tag in the yard.  Later on, everyone wanted Jim on their team for Trivial Pursuit because we knew he could carry the team and help us win :) He was so warm and welcoming whenever we reached out to him, and always said we were welcome to visit him whenever we were in Toronto.  He fought a courageous battle and we will all miss him very much. Sending you all love and hugs from all of us. 


From Suzanne, Chris, Aaron, and Angus

I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Jim and  I want to extend my sincere condolences to you all.  I had the privilege to be one of Jim's teachers at Markham District High School.  I can still envision Jim sitting at the  front of my lab, focused on the lesson, and interjecting humorous comments when appropriate. He helped to keep the lessons moving forward ! Jim was multi-talented, fun and highly engaged in music, sports, academics and social activities. He was a sought-after group member, not just for his academic ability, but perhaps more importantly, his caring and humble manner.  Jim had many friends and knew how to be a good friend. While I have not had contact with Jim since his graduation, it seems that these qualities of excellence marked him as an adult too.   Folks were better for having known Jim. 
Your feeling of loss must be so great, and I am so sorry. As a Christ-follower, I have learned to take my grief and losses to Jesus, and have found great comfort in doing so. I will be praying for you all, and will ask the Lord to provide the comfort, strength and direction that you will need.  
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble." Psalm 46:1

My sincere condolences to Tina-Victoria-Lorna-Erin-for the loss of a great husband-loving father-son and brother--James--
James was my beloved nephew who I had great love for years.
James was Aunt J and my[Uncle Michael] weddding video taker 28 years ago and did a great job creating a tape with the old fashioned hand camera of our wedding that we still have today.
James loved his Leafs like I do and we had many a conversations about the Leafs and what they needed to be better and that one day they would win a cup--we both weren't sure when?
 We also had in common that we both were fighting cancer- His cancer was much more serious than mine and he never complained or talked about his issues and always gave me  words of encourgement --"Seize the day --enjoy every minute "and that some day mine would be cured--never thinking about himself
His prophecy came true and I prayed his would be too
James was a very intelligent man -a great and dedicated  employee all through his illness -and very ahletic during his youth and university days.
He fought an amazing eight year  battle and is gone way too soon.
I will miss my beloved nephew
May his family during this time of grief find peace in the days ahead .
Love Uncle Michael

Jim was my good friend during high school. I remember spending endless summers at his basement with Kurt playing Goldeneye.  

We were also first year roommates at western. He had a brilliant mind. He never had to study until the night before the exam. 

But above all Jim  had a wicked sense of humor - the king of puns and one liners. 

He was good man with a strong sense of responsibility. He left us too soon. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. May he rest in peace.

In high school I knew Jim as the friend that was always full of confident energy and life.  We were both part of the senior vocal Jazz group and spent many evenings working through different numbers.
I still fondly remember his solo section for Fever and still sing it with his signature flourish.  Rest in peace Jim, you will be missed.

He seemed to be Jim in school, James in adult years. I couldn't imagine anyone having a quarrel with this guy. He was so gentle and well-spoken, he loved learning, and he will be missed. My condolences to his family and closest friends.

Jim has been my friend ever since Kindergarten at William Armstrong Public School in Markham, Ontario, way back in 1985.

We were friends throughout elementary and high school, and stayed in touch even after we went to separate universities, started careers, and then got married and started families.

I have many great memories of our friendship over the years, from playing too much Sega Genesis in the basement rec room, to planning  to start a flying car company called "Retek" together (sometime after seeing Back to the Future, 2).

We had a blast seeing (and mocking) many terrible scifi movies at the Markville Mall Cineplex Odeon, and later in our early 20s got pretty silly attempting to finish a "Bubba" mini-keg of beer at the Stone family cottage one lazy summer long weekend (with the  assistance of his father, Paul).

Although life took different turns for us, we did stay in touch over the years (and later distance). 

Jim has always been a stand up guy, who had a strong moral compass, and  was also hard worker. His time on Earth was too short, and he will be missed by many.

I wish Tina, Victoria and the rest of the Stone and Lee families my deepest condolences.

Dear Lorna, Erin, Tina, Victoria, and family. 
We are so sorry to hear of Jim's passing.  A tremendous loss for so many. Jim will always remain in the thoughts and hearts of those privileged enough to meet him. Quality over quantity. Rest comfortably Jim.

Jimmy was the pun king!!  We loved building upon each other's puns
When he was little we invented a touch tag game we called "eek". Even as adults Jim and I always remembered when we would say goodbye to "eek" each other.
When Jim was little I told and showed him the importance of a good hug not a cardboard hug. 
We always joked about not having those cardboard hugs. Even recently we would text each other a hug and make sure it was clear to each other it was not a cardboard hug. 
Jim loved to write poetry. I was so amazed when he told me that. He inherited the artistic gene and desire. He told me not that long ago that art was something he would like to spend his time on.
Jim was always concerned about how I was doing even when he was so sick.
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer he called me and said "Aunt J you know the oxygen mask on the airplane,  well make sure you look after yourself now and help others after".
Jim was wise and tender hearted truly what I affectionately call "a concerned citizen".
A genius and most humble. 
Jim  has been a most precious gift in my life.

Our deepest condolences to Tina, Victoria, Erin, Lorna and the rest of family.

Our family will miss Jim so much and he will always be in our thoughts and prayers.   

Eternal rest grant unto the soul of James Paul Stone and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

Dear Tina, Victoria, Lorna and Erin
Our deepest sympathies on the  loss of Jim. We know he will be deeply missed. His battle was long and arduous, but he had the unwavering support of all of you during his illness. We remember seeing him for the first time in July 1980, and deciding at that moment that we wanted kids :) He was a brilliant little boy, and made his way through life proving his excellence at hard work. We are so very sorry that he had to depart this life far too soon. May he rest in peace and may you all  remember the special memories you all created together. 
Much love,
Dan and Judy

James (or Jim/Jimmy as he was known within the family) was my beloved older cousin. Just one year apart, we were very close as kids. So many of my early memories involve Jim - at Grammy’s or Grandpa’s, on holiday at our place or his, and at the cottage. We had an ongoing unofficial “who is smarter” competition along with my brother, Jonah, which brought such fun and joy every time we got together. Even though he let us shine sometimes, we knew we never stood a chance against Jim. He was brilliant. Jim had the best sense of humour and loved inside jokes (and creating new ones). He was a champion wordsmith and could out pun the entire family by age 10 and there was some serious competition (like my mom, his dad and Uncle Dan to name a few). He was also a very accomplished martial artist, earning a black belt in karate at a young age. Jim was sweet and kind and thoughtful and humble and just good to his core. 

After he got sick, I would ask him what can I do to help? He would always say “Seize the day. Live your life. Find happy moments every day.” Selfless and poignant - and so Jimmy. I’m so grateful to him for giving me this. I miss you, Jim. Rest in peace my sweet cousin.

May light perpetual shine upon him, Erin, and may you and your family feel the love and support of all those around you.

OBITUARY

James Paul Stone

2 July, 1980 – 14 May, 2025

Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes

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