Official Obituary of
Jack Stearns
September 8, 1920 ~ June 18, 2015 (age 94) 94 Years Old
Jack Stearns Tribute
Wallingford - Henry Jackson "Jack" Stearns, 94, of Wallingford, CT and formerly of Fairfield, died on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at the Masonic Home. He was the husband of Jean Streicher Stearns.
Born in Beacon, NY on September 8, 1920, he was the son of the late Vincent D. and Veda Jackson Stearns. He had been a resident of Fairfield for 43 years before moving to Ashlar Village in Wallingford in 1999.
Jack was a graduate of Beacon High School class of 1939 and New York University class of 1943/1947 where he was a member of the track team and Zeta Psi fraternity.
He entered military service as a Private in August of 1942 and attended the Corps of Engineers Officers Candidate School, was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to duty in the Pacific Theater of operations with the 152nd Engineer Combat Battalion and the 1165th Engineer Combat Group. He participated in the Gilbert Island, Saipan and Okinawa Campaigns for which he received three battle stars. After 33 months in the Pacific, he was separated from services at 1st Lieutenant in April 1946 at which time he returned to New York University to complete his college education.
After military service and college, he worked for Texaco and Shell Oil Companies in their personnel and marketing departments. While at Texaco, he met the love of his life, Jean Streicher. They were married in 1949.
In 1950, Jack established an insurance agency, H. Jackson Stearns & Co. and also was the vice president of the Fairfield Land & Title Co. He retired from H.J.S. Co in 1999.
He was a former officer and board member of the Fairfield Branch YMCA, a past president of the Fairfield Association of Independent Insurance Agents, the Bridgeport Association of Independent Insurance Agents, also a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Fairfield of which he was a past president with honors. He was also active in Beacon (NY) Historical Society to which he presented his ship models of Henry Hudson's HALF MOON and the ferry boat MARY POWELL which was presented to the Rivers and Estuaries Center in Beacon. He was an honorary Life Member of Beacon Engine Co. No. 1, where his grandfather was a charter member in 1886 and his father a lifelong member. Jack was a member of Compass Lodge No. 9 A.F. & A.M. and also Ashlar Lodge No. 332, A.F. & A.M.
Jack was a direct descendant of Everardus and Anneke Jans Bogardus, Everardus being pastor of the Dutch Church of Niew Amsterdam, now Manhattan. He was also a direct descendant of Charles and Mary Stearns, original settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
During his retirement in Masonicare's Ashlar Village, he was president of the Ashlar Village Association, member of the Ashlar Village, Inc. Board and chaired several committees.
During his full life, he enjoyed canoeing, boating, traveling and most of all, the loves of his life; Jean, his sons and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean Streicher Stearns, two sons; Gary Streicher Stearns and Robert Jackson Stearns and his wife Michelle, as well as four grandchildren; Daniel, Emily, Jackson and William. He was predeceased by his son David Gould Stearns.
The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home of Wallingford has been entrusted with arrangements. Private interment will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. To leave a message of remembrance, please visit www.BCBailey.com.
Born in Beacon, NY on September 8, 1920, he was the son of the late Vincent D. and Veda Jackson Stearns. He had been a resident of Fairfield for 43 years before moving to Ashlar Village in Wallingford in 1999.
Jack was a graduate of Beacon High School class of 1939 and New York University class of 1943/1947 where he was a member of the track team and Zeta Psi fraternity.
He entered military service as a Private in August of 1942 and attended the Corps of Engineers Officers Candidate School, was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to duty in the Pacific Theater of operations with the 152nd Engineer Combat Battalion and the 1165th Engineer Combat Group. He participated in the Gilbert Island, Saipan and Okinawa Campaigns for which he received three battle stars. After 33 months in the Pacific, he was separated from services at 1st Lieutenant in April 1946 at which time he returned to New York University to complete his college education.
After military service and college, he worked for Texaco and Shell Oil Companies in their personnel and marketing departments. While at Texaco, he met the love of his life, Jean Streicher. They were married in 1949.
In 1950, Jack established an insurance agency, H. Jackson Stearns & Co. and also was the vice president of the Fairfield Land & Title Co. He retired from H.J.S. Co in 1999.
He was a former officer and board member of the Fairfield Branch YMCA, a past president of the Fairfield Association of Independent Insurance Agents, the Bridgeport Association of Independent Insurance Agents, also a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Fairfield of which he was a past president with honors. He was also active in Beacon (NY) Historical Society to which he presented his ship models of Henry Hudson's HALF MOON and the ferry boat MARY POWELL which was presented to the Rivers and Estuaries Center in Beacon. He was an honorary Life Member of Beacon Engine Co. No. 1, where his grandfather was a charter member in 1886 and his father a lifelong member. Jack was a member of Compass Lodge No. 9 A.F. & A.M. and also Ashlar Lodge No. 332, A.F. & A.M.
Jack was a direct descendant of Everardus and Anneke Jans Bogardus, Everardus being pastor of the Dutch Church of Niew Amsterdam, now Manhattan. He was also a direct descendant of Charles and Mary Stearns, original settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
During his retirement in Masonicare's Ashlar Village, he was president of the Ashlar Village Association, member of the Ashlar Village, Inc. Board and chaired several committees.
During his full life, he enjoyed canoeing, boating, traveling and most of all, the loves of his life; Jean, his sons and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean Streicher Stearns, two sons; Gary Streicher Stearns and Robert Jackson Stearns and his wife Michelle, as well as four grandchildren; Daniel, Emily, Jackson and William. He was predeceased by his son David Gould Stearns.
The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home of Wallingford has been entrusted with arrangements. Private interment will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. To leave a message of remembrance, please visit www.BCBailey.com.
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