In Memoriam: Lifetime Little Silver Resident, Former Police and Fire Chief, Walter Stearns, 94

Lifetime Little Silver resident and former police and fire department chief, Walter Stearns, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 10. He was 94.

Born in 1930 in the Navesink section of Middletown to Milburn and Ruth Boyd Stearns, Walter graduated from Red Bank High School in 1949 and joined the U.S. Air Force, fighting in the Korean War, where he served as a radio operator for a forward observation team and earned six medals for combat service.

Upon returning home, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Kerr, in 1952 and settled in Little Silver with their children, Shari and Jeff.

After losing his beloved Dottie to cancer in 1974, Walter met the second love of his life, Mary, whom he married in 1981. Together, they shared 33 adventure-filled years until her passing in 2014.

“Known for his kind heart and warm spirit, Walter was a friend to all who knew him and leaves behind an enduring legacy of service and compassion …
Walter’s commitment to his community was evident through both his professional and volunteer roles. He graduated from the N.J. State Police Academy and joined the Little Silver Police Department as a patrolman in 1952, serving as deputy chief from 1978 until his retirement in 1982.

“He also was a proud member of the Little Silver Fire Department (LSFD) for more than 65 years, serving as chief in 1965. He continued as LSFD’s safety officer well into his 80s and was a member of the Little Silver First Aid Squad for more than 50 years. The scanner in his Little Silver home announced fire and police calls decades after his retirement, and he was quick to run out the door to direct traffic to help first responders. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, he marked his 90th birthday with a parade of fire trucks, ambulances and police squad cars past his home, a celebration he greatly enjoyed.”
Loved ones of Walter Stearns in his obituary

The Little Silver Fire Department membership made this collective statement about the passing of its former beloved chief …

“Walter was more than just a member of our firehouse — he was a cornerstone of our company and a friend to all. Known for his steady presence, kind heart, and unwavering dedication, Walter earned the respect and admiration of everyone who had the privilege of serving alongside him.

“Walter served as Fire Chief in 1965 and held several other vital roles throughout his many years of service. He also dedicated his career to the Little Silver Police Department, retiring in 1982 as Deputy Police Chief. Even in retirement, Walter continued to answer the call — responding to countless emergencies and serving as our Safety Officer well into the 2010s.

“Walter was famous for his role in parades, proudly riding aboard our antique 1935 American La France fire engine. Many in town looked forward to seeing him hop off the truck during the Borough’s Memorial Day Parade to share his annual dance on Willow Drive with the late Margaret Odell — a tradition that brought smiles to so many. Many of us were fortunate to see Walter this past March at our annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser.

“True to form, he greeted everyone with a smile and his characteristic warmth — a final reminder of the lasting impact he made on this town and its people.We are grateful for Walter’s service, his friendship, and the many memories he leaves behind. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him.

“Rest in peace, Chief Stearns. Thank you for everything.'”

“Throughout the years, Walter generously gave his time to countless organizations” — the Little Silver Board of Education and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Monmouth County, and as a coach for Little Silver Little League and assistant scoutmaster for the Little Silver Troop #3. He was a life member of the Red Bank Elks Lodge 233 and New Jersey State PBA. He was a charter member of the Monmouth County Juvenile Officers’ Association and also served on the International Juvenile Officers’ Association …

In (his alma mater) Red Bank High School’s 1949 yearbook, Walter’s senior photo was captioned: “Whenever there’s fun, there’s Walt. His cheerful grin never seems to leave him.”

“Walter was indeed always the life of the party — whether donning a headband to take charge of the dance floor at a wedding, sharing a joyful annual dance in the middle of the street with a friend during Little Silver’s Memorial Day Parade or playing in softball games with the fire department. He organized his high school reunions for decades and was a familiar face in local fishing shops and restaurants, swapping stories and laughs with friends. In his quieter moments, Walter loved feeding deer, birds and many of God’s creatures in his back yard.”

“A passionate outdoorsman,” Walter was a true legend among Jersey Shore surf fishermen. He enjoyed catching (and releasing!) fish along Atlantic Ocean beaches and the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers, locally, with shad trips to Lambertville each spring. “He reveled in fishing trips” to Ken Lockwood Gorge, the Catskills, Montauk and Martha’s Vineyard, and was a longstanding member of Jersey Shore Trout Unlimited and a life member of the Sunrise Rod and Gun Club.

Walter was predeceased by: his parents; his first wife, Dorothy, and second wife, Mary.

He is survived by: his daughter, Shari (Bob) Major; his son, Jeff Stearns; his grandchildren, Scott (Beth), Alison, Courtney (Steele), David and Maddie; his great-grandchildren, Skylar, Ryder and Mark; and Mary’s children, Roy (Susan) Soden, and Joan (Andy) DeSarno; children and grandchildren and countless friends.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Friday, May 23, from 4 to 8 p.m., at John E. Day Funeral Home in Red Bank. A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, May 24 at 9 a.m. Services will be followed by a processional through Little Silver and internment at Fairview Cemetery, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Walter’s honor to the Little Silver Fire Department.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via John E. Day Funeral Home

— Photos/Little Silver Fire Company, Facebook