Former Vice Mayor Marshall Stone Passes Away

A former City Council member who helped make Union City into what it is today passed away last week.

Marshall Stone, who was born in Dallas in 1929 and served on the City Council from 1976 to 1980, passed away on July 29 in his Grizzly Flats home in El Dorado County, according to a city newsletter. He was 81.

“With the death of Marshall Stone, Union City has lost another former councilmember that helped shape the growth of Union City,” said Carol Dutra-Vernaci, a former City Council member. Though Dutra-Vernaci was much younger and wasn’t elected to office until 1997, she recalled the accomplishments of Stone and his fellow Council members.

According to Dutra-Vernaci, he served on the council when the City Hall and police department were located on Whipple Road and when the Union City Library was located where the James Logan High School tennis courts are currently. The council recognized the need for more space, Dutra-Vernaci said. All three sites are now located within the same civic center complex as a result.

City staff report that though Stone only served a single term in office, he was chosen to be vice mayor by his peers twice during his four-year stint.

The city report also said Stone’s term was “a momentous one in Union City’s history.”

During his term, Stone and his fellow council members saw many significant moments in Union City.

According to the report, the highlights from that era included the opening of Fire Station #1 in 1976, the demolition of the Holly Sugar Mill in 1977, the opening of New Haven Middle School (now Cesar Chavez Middle School) in 1977, the opening of William Cann Neighborood Park in 1978, the closing of the Pacific Steel plant in 1978 and the merging of the Decoto Fire District and Union City Fire Department in 1979.

Aside from public service, Stone was a Korean War veteran with the Marines and Air Force. He also taught at Castlemont High School in Oakland in 1957 and later at Marina High School in San Lorenzo from 1964 to 1985.

After 28 years of teaching, he moved to Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County, where he started a second career in real estate.

He was married to his wife Margaret for 60 years. He was the father of 14 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Visit Stone's online memorial on the Chapel of the Pines (Placerville) website here.