INDIAN HILL - Stona James Fitch started out life as a cowboy and ended up a much-respected P&G executive and Cincinnati philan-thropist. By Rebecca Goodman Enquirer staff writer Saturday, November 12, 2005 Born on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma, he was 'very proud of the fact that he had Cherokee blood, and considered himself to be the first minority officer of P&G,' said his wife, Barbara. Mr. Fitch was the founder of Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati and served as its first board president. He was once also president of the board of Playhouse in the Park. 'He will be so missed here,' said artistic director Ed Stern. 'He really was a special friend of the playhouse. I find it interesting that when he passed away was when we're beginning our 15th annual (performance) of 'A Christmas Carol.' It was Stona's idea to do 'A Christmas Carol.' He has brought joy to tens of thousands of people. Last year, he did something remarkable - endowed it to make sure it will have a life here in Cincinnati.' Mr. Fitch died Tuesday of lung cancer at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash. The Indian Hill resident was 74.He was born in 1931 to Stona Lee Fitch and Lessie Tims Fitch. 'We believe that his grandmother thought she was using a word that refers to water in Cherokee,' his wife said. 'We think the original word was 'stonah.' ' Mr. Fitch served as a first sergeant with the Army 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with highest honors in 1955, and was named to Phi Beta Kappa. He went to work for P&G right out of college, and spent his entire 38-year career with the company. He 'served key roles in the company's U.S. manufacturing operations,' said his son, Stona Fitch of Concord, Mass. 'While at Procter & Gamble, he earned a reputation for fairness with unions and employees, and excelled in bringing new efficiency to manufacturing operations. He supported the rise of minorities and women to executive positions, and served as a mentor to many,' During his last nine years with P&G, Mr. Fitch was vice president of manufacturing. He retired in 1993. In addition to the playhouse and Ronald McDonald House, he served on the boards of the Taft Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Horticultural Society. 'His spirit can be seen all around Cincinnati,' Stern said. Mr. Fitch wrote a volume of memoirs published last year called 'Stories.' He was a member of the Literary Club of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Country Club and the Queen City Club. In addition to his wife and son, survivors include: daughters, Valerie Fitch of New York City, Susan Shallow of Gulf Shores, Ala. and Melissa Keenan of Lancaster, N.H.; another son, Michael Lewis of Dallas, Texas; a sister, Diana Harrington of Greenwich, Conn.; and eight grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held Dec. 3 at Indian Hill Episcopal-Presbyterian Church, 6000 Drake Road. The time has not been set. Interment will be at the church. Memorials: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, P.O. Box 6537, Cincinnati, OH 45206-0537, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati, 350 Erkenbrecher Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229, Cancer Family Care, 2421 Auburn Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45219 or Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Service

Saturday, December 3, 2005 11:00 AM Indian Hill Church 6000 Drake Road Cincinnati 45243, United States