Mike Stone, who moved to Queenstown from the United States in the early ’90s, visited his US-based daughters for Christmas, but then required emergency open heart surgery, which resulted in severe complications.
Mike served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, then became a financial adviser.
He had casino industry connections, and in Queenstown led a consortium that successfully bid to open Wharf Casino in ’99 (the larger SkyCity casino, now the resort’s only one, opened its doors a year later).
Mike also headed a group of investors who bought out pioneering Gibbston Valley Winery (GVW) owner Alan Brady.
Under his watch the winery won major international accolades, but by 2009 he and other shareholders had been bought out by fellow investor, American Phil Griffith.
GVW winemaker Christopher Keys, whom Mike employed in 2006, says "he was impulsive, he was a man of his own will, but he helped a lot of people out".
"He was a funny guy, like, hilarious, loved a story, gave wine and wine service a bit of levity, and enjoyed the hospitality side of business."
Former business associate Ray Pike, who’d befriended Mike in the US, says Mike not only helped him there but encouraged him to follow his move to Queenstown, even selling him some of his then-Frankton Rd property.
"I asked him, ‘why are you at the end of the earth?’ and he said, ‘come down and see’.
"He used to say, ‘well, I get in a boat, go across to play golf at Kelvin Heights and catch fish in the boat, both ways’ — for him, Queenstown was heaven.
"He was such a massive personality, like him or not, he was Mike Stone.
"A lot of people viewed him as very opinionated, he was, but he was also highly ethical, highly moral, and valued his friends."
Mike’s survived by his wife Anna Hunt, sister Kathee, daughters Trisha, Barbie, Summer and Kristi, stepchildren Lou and Nick and six grandchildren.
His family comment: "Mike was always the life of the party and had a sense of humour that would regularly make people blush.
"He was generous, outgoing and had a softer side those close to him were lucky enough to experience.
"His passions were travelling, fishing, hunting and wine, along with spending time with his wife, daughters and close friends."
