ANDERSON TOWNSHIP – A young man who was adopted by the University of Cincinnati soccer team during the Brian Kelly era has died after a seizure, according to a post on his mother’s Facebook.
Mitch Stone, 23, battled brain cancer as a fifth grader in Maddux before entering Nagel Middle School. After being picked up by Kelly’s Bearcats, he became a permanent fixture on the team. His mother, Dee Stone, helped create a foundation to help others like Mitch who may be withheld from activities due to illness. Mitch Stone was diagnosed with Mitch’s mission in February 2009, which began not long after.
Mitch Stone later continued serving on the mission through several “Playdates with the Bearcats,” which raised funds to send children to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital summer camp.
Dee Stone posted this news on her Facebook page on Friday:
We are broken to lose our dear son, but grateful that he has met so many people in his short time here on earth. Most of you know its history and it is well summarized in the following article.
Additionally, Mitch graduated from his beloved University of Cincinnati with a degree in business administration last May. Most recently he lived at home and renovated a house that he had bought with his twin brother Nick. He also got into the family optical business and had plans to open a business in Clifton so he could be near two of his favorite places: UC and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Mitch had a long way to go with his cancer diagnosis at age 11, but he came out healthy and fit on the other hand. He had seizures three years ago; He took medication for her, but it was ultimately a seizure that caused his death. We are very grateful for the additional 12 years we were able to spend with him.
Mitch was a really good and caring person – everyone liked him. He always took the time to listen and appreciated a well-told story and a good laugh. He loved UC soccer, collected weird things, shopped, ran, hiked and camped, spent time with his sisters Paisley and Piper and his many, many friends.
He will be in our hearts forever. We are grateful for your prayers and support.
Lots of love, Dee and Anthony
At Anderson High School, Mitch Stone was an active member of the cross country and track team. He had the ninth fastest time in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference during the fall 2015 cross country season at 4:47 p.m. while his twin brother Nick led the league at 4:19 p.m. Both were elected to the ECC First Team. They were also top runners for Andy Wolf’s Anderson track team in the distance competitions.
Among those who shared their thoughts on Mitch Stone on Twitter on Friday was former Bearcat quarterback Tony Pike, who led UC teams to the Orange and Sugar Bowls.
“This one is too hard,” Pike wrote. “Mitch Stone meant so much to me and the 09 team … changed life forever! Fighting and beating cancer with a smile all the time! Achieved so much and just getting started! My thoughts go with the whole family ! “
The University of Cincinnati Athletics Twitter account also posted a tribute to Mitch, saying, “He loved the Bearcats and was lost far too soon.”
Mitch Stone was a 2016 Anderson High graduate and a 2020 graduate of his beloved University of Cincinnati.
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