The name Irving I. Stone is familiar to ArtScroll/Mesorah readers as the patron of three works that have become the standards of English-speaking Jewry: the Stone Edition of the Chumash, the Stone Edition of Tanach, and the Sapirstein Edition of Rashi. He was a seminal figure in the renaissance of Orthodox life in many other ways, as well, and his unexpected death on January 17/10 Shevat was a blow to the broader Jewish community.

Mr. Stone lived in two worlds, and he was a successful battler in both. In the world of commerce, he took a business that started on his parents' kitchen table and pushcart, and built in into the world's second largest greeting card company. In the world of Judaism, he helped establish the primacy of Jewish education in his native Cleveland, and traveled the country in a zealous campaign to convince American federations that only through support of Torah institutions could American Jewry guarantee its survival.

At the age of five, little Irving was stuffing envelopes for his parents, Jacob and Jennie Sapirstein. By the age of nine, he was a junior partner, and when his father became ill, Irving took over temporarily at the age of twelve. Jacob Sapirstein lived to be 102, and came into the office every day until the end. Irving followed his example; "retirement"was not in their lexicon.

Irving's parents taught him to love learning and imbued him with the conviction that superior teaching is the best way to communicate the infectious joy of Torah study. When he grew up, day school education in the United states was virtually non-existent, and he always regretted that he was unable to receive a Torah education, but he was determined to do everything he could to make sure that later generations would have their due as Jews. His efforts began with the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland. In close cooperation with his dear friend, the founder and dean of the institution, he turned it into one of America's premier yeshiva day schools.

Mr. Stone convinced the Cleveland Federation to become a generous supporter of the Academy and other local Torah institutions. And he went to meetings around the country to enlist other communities in the effort. He recalled being at national conclaves where he was one of two people eating kosher food. History has vindicated his efforts.

This man of many investments and projects often said that the best investment he ever made was his sponsorship of the "Stone Chumash." He loved the Chumash that bears his name and took enormous pride in its universal acceptance as the standard English-language translation and commentary of the Torah. He went on to dedicate the Stone Edition of the Tanach, which brought all twenty-four books of the Hebrew Bible to English-speaking Jews in a translation that is faithful to the Rabbinic tradition, for the first time. In these decisions, Mr. Stone was supported by his son-in-law and colleague, Morrie Weiss.

To honor the memory of his parents, he dedicated the Sapirstein Edition of Rashi, which has won acclaim and admiration as a magnificent presentation of Rashi's commentary on the Chumash. Rashi is universally regarded as the "father of commentators," and this work enables people to study and comprehend his commentary with unprecedented clarity.

He is survived by his wife Helen; four children: Hensha Gansbourg, Neil Stone, Myrna Tatar, and Judith Weiss; and many grandchildren and great-children. His first wife, Beatrice, the mother of his children, died twenty years ago.

Irving Stone will forever be remembered as a kind and gentle man, who was dedicated to Jewish life during the decades when assimilation was the goal of mainstream Jewry. He left a lasting legacy of accomplishment. When the history of American Jewry is written, the name Irving I. Stone will be writ large.