By Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz
The Stone family of York, Pennsylvania, loves to skate.
And it’s obvious.
Several mornings during the week, they can be found on the ice together at the University of Delaware or York Ice Arenas with four or five coaches, each family member working on their various disciplines.
John Stone is a U.S. Adult gold medalist in bronze pairs, bronze men’s III, bronze emotional performance III and bronze lyrical pop/character/comedic III. His wife, Janet Stone, is a U.S. Adult gold medalist in bronze pairs, bronze women’s II and bronze emotional performance II.
All four of their children are also involved in ice sports with three of them involved in figure skating: Ellie Stone, a 2022 Solo Dance Series national qualifier and competitor, and Jerry Stone and Zoe Stone, top nine 2022 NQS juvenile ice dancers and 2023 National Development Team campers. Their oldest son, Johann Stone, plays hockey.
The Stone family’s skating journey began in 2016 when the kids were enrolled in local Learn to Skate classes.
“I always wanted to be a skater and started lessons at 18,” Janet Stone said. “John occasionally played pick-up hockey but never wore a pair of figure skates. When the kids began Learn to Skate, I stood there watching them, thinking why I am freezing off the ice when I can be freezing on the ice.”
John Stone then got his first pair of figure skates, and Janet Stone remembers it was definitely a “toe-pick” moment.
“We eased into it slowly,” John Stone said. “But we definitely needed the high-level coaching.”
With homeschooling, the family skates Monday through Friday mornings for 2 to 2 ½ hours. They also sometimes skate on afternoons. Shows and competitions are also part of this family’s sport.
“We try to find competitions we can all compete and attend as a family,” John Stone said. “The Keystone Games was one competition we did as a family.”
All six family members also performed together for a Scott Hamilton Cares Show in York. At the 2022 Adult U.S. Championships in Delaware, the kids volunteered and were able to be present and cheer mom and dad in their events.
“At competitions, we’re all cheering for each other,” Janet Stone said. “We’re right there. Unless we’re competing on two different sheets of ice simultaneously, and that has happened, but otherwise, we’re always there.”
And 2022-23 was a big skating year for this family, with Ellie Stone, Jerry Stone and Zoe Stone participating in several notable events. For Ellie Stone, it was the National Solo Dance Final. She hopes to return to that event this year and participate in the National Excel program.
Zoe Stone and Jerry Stone were excited to visit San Jose, California, in January to attend the National Development Camp, and for the young ice dancers, it was nothing short of amazing.
“I always wanted to go, and when we qualified, it was just awesome to be there, with Olympic skaters teaching us,” Jerry Stone said.
The two especially enjoyed their classes with Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue.
“It was so much fun,” Zoe Stone said. “They showed me some hard moves but helped me understand how to do them. All the campers were together having fun. That was the best part.”
While the kids absorbed every second of their camp experience, John Stone and Janet Stone participated in the camp’s parent track.
“It was very informative,” John Stone said. “We learned a lot. It was so helpful in our skating journey – simple things like explaining the judging system so parents could understand it. We thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Janet Stone admits being a skating family can sometimes be a bit competitive.
“Who is working on what jump? Who landed that jump or got that particular move. Still, it’s definitely nice to have as a family activity,” she said.
For John Stone, it’s one of the many reasons they remain in the sport.
“We generally care about our coaches, the competitions and the challenge,” he said. “As an adult skater learning at a very late age, it’s very different. Still, I would suggest any adult give it a try.”
They all agree if skating taught them one word, it’s perseverance, and family support on ice is everything.
“Everyone in my family understands what it’s like to be a skater,” Ellie Stone said.
For Zoe Stone and Jerry Stone, the fact that they can skate together as a dance team is the best.
“I can skate with my brother, which is fun, and we can practice our elements a lot off the ice, too,” Zoe Stone said. “It makes me want to work to be a better skater. You get inspired.”
“For me, being on the ice with my parents for lessons is great,” Jerry said. “They’re right there and can see what we’re doing and learning.”
Whether it’s a competition, show or lesson, any time together on the ice for the Stone family is special.
“It’s been fun to do as a family,” Janet Stone said. “We push each other to work hard, but we definitely celebrate our victories.”
