This fund was established by a group of donors in 2014 to support the Edward D. Stone, Jr. Lecture Series in the College of Design, Construction and Planning at the University of Florida, for expenses such as honoraria and travel that are related to securing nationally recognized designers and planners to speak on campus about emerging issues affecting our world.

Edward was the founder of Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates (EDSA), one of the preeminent planning and landscape architecture firms in the world. Throughout his career, Edward made numerous contributions to the fields of landscape architecture and land planning. Edward was born in Norwalk, CT in 1932. He earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Yale University and a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University. Edward served as a fighter pilot and captain in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1957. He began his career in Fort Lauderdale with Frederick B. Stresau, one of the pioneers of landscape architecture in Florida. In 1960, Edward founded EDSA.

Edward was elected a fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1974 and awarded the society’s prestigious ASLA Medal in 1994. Under Edward’s leadership, EDSA has received over 140 statewide, national and international awards. Edward was appointed to the Presidential Commission of Fine Arts by Richard M. Nixon in 1971, reappointed by President Gerald R. Ford in 1976 and again in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. He was a member of the Urban Land Institute and was honored to serve many other professional and civic organizations.

Edward passed away in 2009.