Murray S. Stearns Obituary (1922 - 2013)

Mr. Murray Stuart Stearns, 91, of Montclair, passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2013. He was born in Plattsburgh, NY on June 25, 1922 to Eleanor Halpin Stearns and Stuart Olmsted Stearns. Mr. Stearns married Elizabeth Ella Axtell on August 18, 1962 in her hometown of Deposit, NY and Mrs. Stearns was a teacher in the Watchung elementary schools for 17 years. Together they were active in a number of Montclair organizations and enjoyed entertaining family and friends both in their family home in Montclair and their summer home in Tamworth, NH. Elizabeth Ella predeceased him on February 3, 2006. Growing up, Mr. Stearns attended school in Montclair and the former Lenox School in Lenox, MA. He graduated from Montclair High School and then attended Bergen Junior College in Teaneck, NJ. In 1941, his first job was with the Central Railroad of New Jersey as a car checker in the Jersey City freight yard. This job sparked his lifelong interest in railroading. On July 6, 1942 he entered the U.S. Army serving initially in the quartermaster corps at Camp Kilmer, NJ and later with the Port Company at Indiantown Gap, PA. Following his military service Mr. Stearns returned briefly to railroading and then left for college on the GI Bill. He worked for a short period of time for Whitehead & Hoag Company before settling on his life's career as a newspaperman and writer. During the period of 1948 to 1984, Mr. Stearns worked in a variety of capacities as a reporter, columnist and copy editor for the following newspapers - the Montclair Times, Verona-Cedar Grove Times, Martinsville Bulletin (VA), Plattsburgh Press-Republican (NY), Hudson Dispatch, Newark News, Passaic Herald, and the Wilmington Morning News (DE). And for 10 years he was associated with the American Banker. Mr. Stearns was an avid reader and had an encyclopedic memory for politics and history. He was an engaging conversationalist and speaker on these topics. Mr. Stearns was President of the Montclair Republican Club and board member of the Montclair Historical Society and the Montclair Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was a member of the Dunworkin Club of Montclair, the Wrangler's Luncheon Club, and the Now or Never Breakfast Club. Mr. Stearns was a lay reader and long-time, faithful member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Montclair. Mr. Stearns is survived by his cousins, John Halpin of California and William Halpin of New York and Florida; sister-in-law Priscilla (Elwin) VanValkenburg of Sidney, NY; nieces Margaret Axtell (Russell Stevenson) of Severna Park, MD, Karen (William) Arnold of Clifton, VA, Susan Axtell of Binghamton, NY, Ann (Richard) Hammer of Speedway, IN, Pamela (Robert) Lindberg of Darien, CT, nephew David VanValkenburg of Sidney, NY and 16 Great-nieces and nephews. A memorial service and inurnment will be held on Wednesday, October 23 at 11am in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Montclair. Friends may call at the church after 10am. Memorial donations to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 73 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042, the American Red Cross - Montclair Chapter, 63 Park Street, Montclair, NJ 07042, or to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.