David "Stoney" Stone

David “Stoney” Stone of Ipswich, Massachusetts, passed away on March 9, 2026 at the age of 79 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family at the Kaplan Family Hospice Center in Danvers.

Born in Boston on June 28, 1946 to Ray and Lillian Stone, he grew up in Cambridge and spent his summers in Ipswich from early childhood. In 1963 his family became year-round residents of Ipswich. Stoney cherished his boyhood on Great Neck, filled with tree forts, an underground fort, water skiing, sailing, and scuba diving. He graduated from Nasson College in Springvale, Maine, where he formed many lifelong friendships. After serving three years in the U.S. Army as a general’s aide, he used his GI Bill benefits to attend photography school and began a career that became his lifelong passion.

Stoney and his wife Susan shared 36 happy years of marriage while raising their family between Cambridge and Ipswich. Together they enjoyed annual summer vacations in the Adirondacks and motorcycle journeys to explore his family roots in Newfoundland. A gifted photographer, he managed and later owned Spectrum Color Labs in Boston before becoming a staff photographer at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Through his camera he built a large following on social media, known equally for his striking images and his quick wit. He generously taught photography classes for many years, often reminding his students, “You don’t take a picture; you make a picture.” Stoney remained deeply involved in his community, volunteering for the Trustees of Reservations, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the Ipswich Museum, and numerous other civic organizations.

He is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Vanessa and Amy, son Sam and Sam’s significant other Markie Mappes, daughter-in-law Kelly, brother Robert Stone and his wife Kathy, and many nieces and nephews.