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Joe Stonis, 100 |
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Doris and Joe Stonis |
Joe
Stonis is a man who was ahead of the
times, but now, at 100, is right in
step. Thirty years ago when he
retired to Florida with his second
wife, Doris, he became an advocate
for green space and beautification.
His chosen area, he recalls, “looked
like a desert when I first saw it.”
I first noticed the ugly terrain
from the plane, and by the time we
landed I had decided that if this
was going to be where I would spend
the rest of my life, I had to do
something to improve it!” Improve
it, he did, in what is now a lush
town on the Gulf coast.
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Joe began several civic initiatives to plant
trees, to landscape the area, and eventually
to advocate against the encroaching
development in favor of a balance of green
space. He has been spectacularly successful
in his pursuit to bring green, beautiful
open space to his corner of paradise, so
much so that he is often referred to locally
as “the tree man.”
“If there’s a tree being planted
here, I’ve likely had something to do with
it,” he says proudly. “Over the years, the
trees Joe had planted initially have matured
and it all looks natural now, “like it’s
always been here,” he tells. And that’s
just the way he likes it. “But I don’t
stop. I’m always coming up with something
new to add to the beauty of this place.”
Joe has an amazing amount of energy!
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But others have recognized that these trees
and greenery didn’t just happen by itself,
and Joe has received numerous honors from
the community and the state. At age 91, he
was the oldest recipient of the National
Arbor Day Foundation award for his work done
at the community level. He adds this to his
numerous trophies won for his hobby —
fishing, both fresh and salt water. And
along the way he’s written a book called
“Slices of American Pie,” published at
age 98, and he’s now at work on another.
Joe is a wonderful example of the
rich opportunities that can await a person
in his/her retirement years. “Before I
moved here, I never gave a thought to
trees,” he tells. “It just suddenly came to
me that I had to do this. It’s really kept
me going, interested and involved in the
community and in other people.” |
Joe Stonis proudly shows
his award from
The National Arbor Day Foundation. |
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Joe grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and spent
70 years in the chemical industry, living in
many parts of the country, wherever he was
assigned. He and his second wife, Doris,
moved to Florida from Memphis, “and I’m sure
glad I did,” he adds. We’re sure the
community that has benefited so greatly from
his altruism and passion for improvement is
glad he did, too! |
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Respecting the privacy of this centenarian
and all centenarians on our website, we ask
all media (or other businesses) to please
direct inquiries to Lynn Adler:
adler@ncap100s.org. |
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