WILLIAM FRANK STONE

PROSPECT HARBOR – William Frank Stone, died Dec. 1, 2007, at his home, with his wife, Barbara; and his brother, Ralph, at his side. Bill faced his death with the same courage he showed all his life. He was born Dec. 29, 1931, in Camden, the son of Marjorie Curtis Stone and Frank H. Stone. He attended public schools in Camden and Edgecomb and graduated from Camden High School in 1949. In the summers during high school, he was employed by Swift Schooner Cruises, Camden. He worked with Bath Iron Works before entering the University of Maine to study electrical engineering. He changed his interest to psychology, and was mentored by A. Douglas Glanville and graduated from University of Maine with a Bachelor of Arts in 1956. He worked as an inspector for Factory Insurance Association for three years, until he entered University of Florida for graduate study in psychology. He received the Ph.D. in 1963, and began teaching at Wilson College and Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, after which he began a 31-year teaching career at the University of Maine. He spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar, teaching in Oslo, Norway. He also worked on his research in Valencia, Spain. He retired from the University of Maine in 1997. Bill was active in Democratic politics when he returned to Maine, and ran for local and state offices. He was an opponent of the Vietnam War and in 1968 headed the Maine Committee to elect Eugene McCarthy as president. He turned his interest in politics to an academic pursuit, writing a book entitled “The Psychology of Politics,” published in 1974 and translated into several languages, including Chinese. He was a founder of International Society of Political Psychology, and served on its governing board and as a vice president of the society. His numerous publications include many journal articles and book chapters, as well as a second edition, 1988, of “The Psychology of Politics,” and the book he edited, “Strength and Weakness: The Authoritarian Personality Today, 1993.” He married Barbara Wilson McCleave in 1991 and they moved to Prospect Harbor in 1995, where he had indulged his love of sailing. Bill enjoyed one season as a stern man on a lobster boat in Corea. Bill and Barbara shared many travels, especially to Latin America and Europe. He had been involved in local politics, the Gouldsboro Budget Committee and Planning Board. He was chairman of Schoodic Futures, a community development group, where he conceived and put into motion the organization of Friends of Schoodic, now part of Friends of Acadia. He had been on the Board of the Washington Hancock Community Agency for a number of years and was active in many other organizations and projects. Bill was a lifetime learner, insatiably curious, well read and always ready for new experiences and projects. He liked to spend time in his darkroom, as he was an avid black and white photographer. Bill was a quiet, thoughtful man of few words, delivered in a soft, melodious voice. He reciprocated the friendship and respect of his many friends in Gouldsboro and beyond. The family is grateful for the support and caring of friends and caregivers who have helped throughout the last two months. Special thanks to the nurses and home health aides from Hancock Home Health Care and Hospice and the volunteer from Hospice of Hancock County. In addition to his wife, Barbara, Bill is survived by two of his three brothers, John Stone of Rochester, N.Y., and Ralph Stone of Fort Worth, Texas; his children, Katherine Stone of Jacksonville, Fla., Suzanne Crews of Gainesville, Fla., Curtis Stone of Mobile, Ala., and Jeffrey Stone of Portland; stepdaughter, Bonnie Wetmore of Concord, N.H.; three grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. His son, William Jr.; and brother, Fred, predeceased him. There will be memorial service in the spring. In lieu of flowers, Bill wished to be remembered by donations in his memory to the A. Douglas Glanville Research and Scholarship Fund University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792. Arrangements by Acadia Burial & Cremation Direct, 248 State St., Ellsworth.