There are many examples of great minds, great innovators and people who dared to dream big without fear of failure or concern for what others may say. One such pioneer in the stewardship of the South Florida coast and marine environment is Don Stone, “friend of the sea and science teacher extraordinaire”.  The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center joins with the friends and family of Don Stone to celebrate the pioneering spirit he brought to the art of education, always ensuring a connection to the ocean he loved.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Don frequently escaped the city to fish and hunt in the woods, becoming a lifelong nature lover. His studies to become a wildlife refuge manager were interrupted by the Korean War as he left college to serve in the Navy. There he became a deep-sea diver and SCUBA diver. He became an instructor at the Navy Underwater Swimmers School in Key West, then a Navy SEAL serving with SEAL Team 2 in Little Creek, Virginia. After his last tour, as an instructor at the West Coast SEAL training facility in California, Don retired from the Navy in 1970 and the family moved to Boca Raton where he continued his education at FAU.

Don’s second career saw him switching from Navy divers to middle school students; he taught science at A.D. Henderson University School for 25 years. He shared his love of nature with his students, both in the classroom and on many field trips, and encouraged them to appreciate and protect the environment. Year after year, his students named him their favorite teacher. In 1993, the Palm Beach County School District agreed, naming him “Teacher of the Year.” He also taught evening science courses at Palm Beach Community College for many years, his classes often including former Henderson students.

Don helped spearhead the mission to make Boca Raton a regional leader in safeguarding environmentally-sensitive lands. His work as chairman of the city’s Environmentally  Sensitive Lands Management Committee was vital in this effort. He was also a long-time member of the city’s Marine Advisory Board, where he facilitated the installation of mooring buoys to protect Boca’s reefs. Don’s love of the ocean and appreciation of nature stands out, as does his dedication to securing Florida’s coastal treasures for future generations.

Gumbo Limbo celebrates this pioneer, and is forever indebted to Don for his work behind the scenes in creating the Nature Center and ensuring this natural gem would be available for everyone to cherish.

The Don Stone Scholarship will support students from Palm Beach or Broward County who wish to pursue a course of study or research in preserving coastal waters and lands. The scholarship will cover the tuition for four years of education with the funds allocated each year at the beginning of the academic term.

While we are starting by supporting one student, our goal is to raise enough funds to help many more future marine and environmental leaders by guaranteeing them continued financial support across their academic tenure and honoring the legacy of a man who spent his life protecting the land and inspiring people around him.