Vale Terence Stone 1942 – 2015
The Western Australian commercial production industry lost one of its greats over the weekend. Terry Stone died peacefully yesterday after a tough battle with cancer. He was 73.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s Terry was Perth’s most awarded and celebrated director. He arrived on our shores to join Perth’s largest production company Taimac as a celebrated director from London. He set up Jordan Stone. Did most of Perth’s top TV commercials. Won most of our best director awards and then moved to Sydney to work there for many years.
Earlier this year he married his long time partner Michelle Blakeley, a past PADC President and co-founder and creative director of JB&B. Johnson Bowley & Blakeley was the winner of Campaign Brief’s first ever Agency of the Year award in 1987.
Here’s Michelle’s notification to close friends:
The music stopped.
The last track finished on the Mark Knopfler CD we were playing and Terry drew his final breath.
It was gentle, peaceful and unhurried.
He was at home, with me, his youngest son, Louis, and Louis’ partner, Sophie. He died at 9.10 am, Sunday, 29th March 2015.
For those of you who didn’t know, Terry was diagnosed with lung cancer last July. In January, he was told it had spread to other parts of his body.
It is a beautiful, warm, sunny day in Perth. Our house is filled with lightness, peace and calm.
Please share those feelings with us as you think, for a moment, of Terry.
Terry touched the lives of many during his years living in Perth. He was a great and very close friend to Campaign Brief, Michael and I. Our Friday lunches were truly legendary.
He was hugely encouraging of young talent and mentored many of Perth’s top creatives including Dale Simmonds, Matt Eastwood (pictured in the top photo with Terry) and Ron Samuel to name a few.
Matt, now global chief creative officer at JWT, posted this dedication on Facebook last night: I lost an old friend yesterday. Terry Stone was hugely influential in my early career. He directed almost every ad I wrote. In fact, a commercial he directed for me went on to win “Commercial of the Year” and was largely responsible for me getting my first job in Sydney. In the early days, Terry, along with Michelle, Kim and I would go on long lunches together, rarely returning to the office before dark, if at all. Although we hadn’t spent much time together in many years, Terry, you will always be missed. Much love.
Rest in Peace Terry. You will be always remembered and missed.
6 Comments
Goodbye Terry, we had a lot of fun, a lot of lunches and created some great work. It’s never been quite the same.I hope God has a lot of champagne in the fridge.
Like Matt Eastwood – and many others from that period in Perth advertising, I learnt much from Terry Stone. He was a consummate professional with a superb attention to detail. In my FCB Shorter days when we asked for them, his beautifully written treatments for commercials were nothing short of brilliant. They always honoured the idea. As far as I was concerned, he wasn’t the easiest of men to get along with, but I recognise that such is the nature of perfectionists. As I recall it, he preferred to work in film rather than video although he was a master of both. He and I once conceived a PADC workshop – ‘Typography for television.’ My condolences to Michelle, their friends and family.
John Ilian.
Farewell Tell, lots of great times , ads and lunches over the years. You were the best.
Just looking at an old show reel – the Bed Shed ad filmed in your old house in Nedlands Tell- and others. Think Louis was running around in a superman suit!
I am totally shocked, it isn’t that long ago that we were chatting at the growers Market in North Perth. I am so sad for you Michelle and Louis. I didn’t know Terry had cancer and of course he never said anything while we were chatting. I thoroughly enjoyed working with you over many years. R.I.P.
That irrepressable smile…….the infectious laugh! I was blessed to be asked by Terry to join him as JordanStone. We learnt so much from Terry. An inspiration to every single person who walked through the door at Churcill Ave. Subiaco. Did this man have the ideas, the concept the courage the persistence the resilience. We were babes in he woods….Terry charted the course. We had soooo much fun! Oh….the long Witches Cauldron lunches…..where the ‘stickies’ came first! Oh the long, long parties at the Peppy then Nedlands homes and us at Mossie Park. Terry….you are theman! God bless you and enjoy the bubbly with the big man above. Rest in Peace. Condolences to Michelle, Louis and all friends and family.