Obituary for Arthur J. Stock
Arthur J. Stock of Needham, MA, died peacefully on Sunday, May 14, 2023. Arthur was born in Detroit, MI on April 22, 1931, the son of the late H. Thompson and Lucille Wallace Stock of Grosse Pointe. He graduated from The Taft School in the class of 1950 and matriculated at Yale College in the class of 1954, also enrolling in ROTC. Arthur married Barbara Finch Stock on August 26, 1953 and, after his graduation from Yale, began several years of military service with her. Among other postings, Arthur served two years in the Army artillery in Munich, Germany as a first lieutenant.
After graduating from Yale Law School in 1959, Arthur moved his young family to Barbara’s hometown of Minneapolis where he practiced law for over twenty years and served in the Army’s active reserve until 1962. Along with helping to found the alcoholism-outreach program Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Arthur volunteered his skills to the Minnesota Republican Party, representing Elmer Anderson in the recount of the 1962 gubernatorial race and managing several local campaigns. He also donated legal services to Native defendants involved in the formative protests of the American Indian Movement. In 1984, Arthur and Barbara relocated to Boston where Arthur joined the Massachusetts Bar Association and became involved in a number of businesses, including the New England Cranberry Company which he acquired in the early 1990s. In 2011, Arthur and Barbara moved into the North Hill Retirement Community and made many friends among the residents and staff.
No matter where he lived, Arthur was faithful to the beliefs and missions of the churches to which he belonged. He held leadership positions at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Old South Congregational Church, and Wellesley Village Church. In his leisure time, Arthur loved sailing. As a teenager, he won the Michigan inland yachting championship in a boat he had purchased himself; in Minnesota he raced an M-16 on Whitefish Lake and Lake Minnetonka. In New England, he spent many happy hours on a 35-foot Ericson he named “Rejoice!” When weather made it impossible to sail, he enjoyed buying, restoring, and re- selling cars. Arthur’s first job required him to drive new cars onto ferries. From then on, each era of his life was represented by the unique cars he owned. He drove to Vassar College to court Barbara in an old model Cadillac that couldn’t go in reverse; in his garage in Minneapolis he kept flashy Triumphs, Porches, and a yellow Datsun 240Z next to the family station wagons; as an active grandfather he drove a white Corvette across New England to see his grandchildren compete, perform, and celebrate milestones. In fact, it was as a grandfather and great-grandfather that Arthur found his greatest joy and legacy. He happily told everyone about their latest accomplishments and travels. He is remembered by all for his gracious spirit, willingness to help others, and endless reserve of kindness.
Arthur is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Barbara; his children James H. Stock (Anne Doyle) and Catherine Stock Lefeber (Peter); his grandchildren, Peter McNicol Lefeber (Katherine), Sarah Lefeber Hempleman (Carter), Christopher Hopkins Stock, John Finch Lefeber (Adrienne), and Corey Doyle Stock; and his great grandchildren, Peter John Lefeber, Adelyn Finch Hempleman, Emily Grace Lefeber, Isabel McNicol Hempleman, and Charlotte Elizabeth Lefeber. He was predeceased by his brother H. Thompson Stock II and sister Josephine Ann Stock.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11AM at the Wellesley Village Church, 2 Central St. Wellesley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Taft School and Wellesley Village Church. The family would like to thank the staff of Pine’s Edge Skilled Nursing Facility in Needham and Good Shepherd Community Care in Newton for their skill and dedication in Arthur’s final months.
After graduating from Yale Law School in 1959, Arthur moved his young family to Barbara’s hometown of Minneapolis where he practiced law for over twenty years and served in the Army’s active reserve until 1962. Along with helping to found the alcoholism-outreach program Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Arthur volunteered his skills to the Minnesota Republican Party, representing Elmer Anderson in the recount of the 1962 gubernatorial race and managing several local campaigns. He also donated legal services to Native defendants involved in the formative protests of the American Indian Movement. In 1984, Arthur and Barbara relocated to Boston where Arthur joined the Massachusetts Bar Association and became involved in a number of businesses, including the New England Cranberry Company which he acquired in the early 1990s. In 2011, Arthur and Barbara moved into the North Hill Retirement Community and made many friends among the residents and staff.
No matter where he lived, Arthur was faithful to the beliefs and missions of the churches to which he belonged. He held leadership positions at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Old South Congregational Church, and Wellesley Village Church. In his leisure time, Arthur loved sailing. As a teenager, he won the Michigan inland yachting championship in a boat he had purchased himself; in Minnesota he raced an M-16 on Whitefish Lake and Lake Minnetonka. In New England, he spent many happy hours on a 35-foot Ericson he named “Rejoice!” When weather made it impossible to sail, he enjoyed buying, restoring, and re- selling cars. Arthur’s first job required him to drive new cars onto ferries. From then on, each era of his life was represented by the unique cars he owned. He drove to Vassar College to court Barbara in an old model Cadillac that couldn’t go in reverse; in his garage in Minneapolis he kept flashy Triumphs, Porches, and a yellow Datsun 240Z next to the family station wagons; as an active grandfather he drove a white Corvette across New England to see his grandchildren compete, perform, and celebrate milestones. In fact, it was as a grandfather and great-grandfather that Arthur found his greatest joy and legacy. He happily told everyone about their latest accomplishments and travels. He is remembered by all for his gracious spirit, willingness to help others, and endless reserve of kindness.
Arthur is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Barbara; his children James H. Stock (Anne Doyle) and Catherine Stock Lefeber (Peter); his grandchildren, Peter McNicol Lefeber (Katherine), Sarah Lefeber Hempleman (Carter), Christopher Hopkins Stock, John Finch Lefeber (Adrienne), and Corey Doyle Stock; and his great grandchildren, Peter John Lefeber, Adelyn Finch Hempleman, Emily Grace Lefeber, Isabel McNicol Hempleman, and Charlotte Elizabeth Lefeber. He was predeceased by his brother H. Thompson Stock II and sister Josephine Ann Stock.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11AM at the Wellesley Village Church, 2 Central St. Wellesley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Taft School and Wellesley Village Church. The family would like to thank the staff of Pine’s Edge Skilled Nursing Facility in Needham and Good Shepherd Community Care in Newton for their skill and dedication in Arthur’s final months.