PLANNED GIVING
BOB VAN STONE ’69 & MARIAN DARLINGTON KEEP A PROMISE THROUGH A PLANNED GIFT When one hears of scholarships,
“Blair is basically my hometown,”
it is only fair to first think about the
Bob commented. “Some people may
recipients. Who are these deserving
have no interest in going back to their
students, what are their life stories and
hometowns, but in my case, Blair was
why did they receive such prestigious
such a great experience and the School
rewards? Yet, most stop listening to the
was like a bucolic little paradise for kids.
story there, missing the importance of
When I think about my past and the
the backstory behind each prestigious
experiences I had growing up, it usually
current Blair boys’ basketball coach
reward. What is the name of the
revolves around Blair.”
Joe Mantegna with Luol Deng ’03,
scholarship, who awarded it and how did the scholarship come to be?
Although Blair always held a special
Bob Van Stone ’69 and Marian Darlington.
Charlie Villanueva ’03 and Royal
place in his heart, Bob admitted that it
Ivey ’00 standing there with a basketball,
took him a while after graduating and
grinning.” Amazed by the strength of
oftentimes get overlooked, can lead
starting his own career for him to realize
his alma mater’s program, Bob thought,
to a beautiful story. Such is the case
just how meaningful Blair was to him.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
with The Virginia Van Stone Memorial
A little help from Blair’s athletic teams,
Scholarship made possible by Robert
particularly the growing boys’ basketball
believes that conversation served as
“Bob” Van Stone ’69 and his wife,
team under renowned coach Joe
the catalyst that prompted him to get
Marian Darlington, honoring the
Mantegna, did not hurt.
re-involved with his beloved school. It
These important questions, which
commitment Bob’s mother, Ginny Van
Remembering that day fondly, Bob
“I didn’t get too involved with Blair
was a chat that led to Bob and Marian
Stone, made to Blair over four decades
after graduation,” Bob said, chuckling.
establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity
of service.
“Or at least until Blair got a really good
and planning to fully fund The Virginia
basketball team.”
Van Stone Memorial Scholarship,
“I had been thinking about the gift for a while,” stated Bob. “I had talked to my
Bob had been working in the Center
through a gift from their estate, to give
late mother about it, and I had promised
City district of Philadelphia when two
the opportunity for a deserving and
her that I would do it, and I wanted to
of his colleagues’ sons struck up a
willing student to attend Blair.
keep my word.”
conversation with him about basketball.
Bob’s father died when he was very
“This scholarship fund in recognition
He recounted, “They all came into my
of my mother will go to a local student
young, and Ginny and Bob moved
office, and I said something along the
who may not otherwise have had the
to campus after Ginny came to work
lines of wanting to watch one of their
opportunity to attend a school like
for the School. She was Headmaster
games.” When it came out that Bob had
Blair,” said Bob. “A school where, every
Benjamin D. Roman’s secretary and
played basketball for Blair, the boys were
time I visit, I just instantly feel better. I
then the School’s longtime registrar.
impressed, calling Blair’s program one
think it’s because you know you’re at an
Ginny lived in Blairstown with her
of the best in the country. Now it was
institution that is doing very good things,
family, and Bob began attending the
Bob who was impressed! He continued,
and just by being there, you know you’re
school in 1965 as a day student.
“They then showed me a photo of
doing good things, too.” ■
Continue Supporting Students at Blair After Your Lifetime Please consider making a provision in your will or estate plan to support scholarship at Blair Academy. Like Bob and Marian, you may also choose to honor someone who has made a difference in your life with a named scholarship. For more information and to join the John C. Sharpe Society of planned givers, contact Velma Lubliner, assistant director of advancement for capital and planned giving, at (908) 362-2041 or lubliv@blair.edu. www.blair.edu/gift-planning
8 8 W I N T ER -SP R I N G 2022
