Thatcher Stone (OB 1973-1974)

Thatcher Alden Stone of Albemarle County Virginia died on November 29, 2022 in Jerusalem, Israel after a short illness. Mr. Stone was born on August 9, 1955, to Melvin and Lillian Stone of Belmont Massachusetts. He is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Stone, of Taos, NM, by his brother Douglas Stone of San Diego, CA, by his nephew, Nathaniel Stone and by his nieces, Hilary Galant, and Elizabeth Stone. Thatcher graduated from the Northfield Mount Hermon School and won a school-boy fellowship from the English-Speaking Union to spend a year at the Brentwood School in Essex, England before college. He graduated from the University of Virginia and from the University of Virginia Law school where, later in his career, he was a lecturer in aviation law. He was a partner in several large law firms in New York City and was, most recently, a founder and managing partner in the law firm, Stone and Woodrow LLP, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Thatcher's professional passion was aviation-related law, having become a private pilot during his undergraduate years at UVA. His legal career was devoted primarily to cross-border financing of large commercial aircraft, serving both private clients as well as the Export-Import Bank of the United States. His knowledge and vision led him to lead a startup effort in 2007 to create a private export credit agency, Xavian Inc., focused on commercial aviation.

Thatcher's philanthropic passion throughout his life was the University of Virginia. He was an Advisory Board Member of The Fralin Museum of Art and a Foundation Board member of the Architecture School. In 1996, he conceived of a unique philanthropic model with the creation of the Madison Lane and Rugby Road Charitable Trust which has provided UVA with over $2.4M in gifts since its inception. Beneficiaries have included the Law School, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Architecture School. In addition, specific gifts important to Thatcher include the Lilian K. [Kolodiz] Stone Distinguished Lectureship at the Law and Architecture Schools in memory of his mother; the Philip M. [Melvin] Stone Dining Room at the Law School in memory of his father; the Nathan and Ida Kolodiz Center of Jewish Studies and the donor of the Rachel Manin fellowship; and the Stone Garden at the Law School as his personal legacy.

Thatcher was also active in the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, serving on mission trips to build goodwill and provide humanitarian aid.

Burial after a private service will be in the family plot in Randolph, MA. A memorial service for a celebration of Thatcher's life will be held at the University of Virginia in June 2023 during his 45th college reunion. Memorial gifts may be made to the University of Virginia.