W. Stearns Caswell, Jr. passed away Friday, September 22, 2017. He was 82. Stearns was born on March 31, 1935 and raised on a farm in rural Gray, Maine.
Stearns showed academic excellence early, becoming valedictorian of his class at the Pennell Institute in Gray, Maine. He went on to earn a Bachelor's and Master's in Mathematics at the University of Maine at Orono.
Stearns then taught mathematics at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Albany before finding his life's career as a researcher and planner for the Department of Transportation of the State of New York. During those thirty years of service he rose to Division Director of Planning and Research.
Besides his considerable professional achievements, however, Stearns was known to all who knew and loved him as a unique creative genius. Entirely self-taught and skilled in a range of expertise worthy of the title Renaissance Man. Stearns fiercely devoured arcane, intricate, technical knowledge and applied it with precision and panache. Chess, poker, boxing, billiards, tennis, golf, plumbing, carpentry, target shooting, fly fishing, classic literature—he was a formidable master of it all. Stearns also collected rare books, collected and restored antique shotguns, and collected and refurbished vintage machines.
He loved with a fullness and gentle power that transformed and liberated all who knew him. To be near him was to find the best in yourself—to want to live the truth he saw in you.
Stearns was predeceased by his parents Esther Robinson White and Willard Stearns Caswell Sr., his brothers Robert and Charles Caswell. He is survived by a brother Claude Caswell (Jennifer), and sisters Alice Statham (Hershel), Catherine Hickson (John) and sister-in-law Sylvia Caswell. He is also survived by his wife of 32 years Rosemary DeLorenzo Caswell, children Cynthia Smith (Steven), Andrew Caswell, Catherine Caswell, and Dana Caswell (Sharon) and grandchildren Ryan, Connor, Tyler and Jennifer Smith, Amanda Caswell and Hayden Stearns Caswell Kendall. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 22nd at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Western Turnpike, Guilderland from 10:30-11:45am with memorial remarks immediately following. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stearns' name can be made to Food Pantries of the Capital District, 32 Essex St., Albany, NY 12206 or to Dutchess Outreach, 29 N. Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or to Good Shepherd Food Bank, 3121 Hotel Rd., Auburn, ME 04210.
Stearns showed academic excellence early, becoming valedictorian of his class at the Pennell Institute in Gray, Maine. He went on to earn a Bachelor's and Master's in Mathematics at the University of Maine at Orono.
Stearns then taught mathematics at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Albany before finding his life's career as a researcher and planner for the Department of Transportation of the State of New York. During those thirty years of service he rose to Division Director of Planning and Research.
Besides his considerable professional achievements, however, Stearns was known to all who knew and loved him as a unique creative genius. Entirely self-taught and skilled in a range of expertise worthy of the title Renaissance Man. Stearns fiercely devoured arcane, intricate, technical knowledge and applied it with precision and panache. Chess, poker, boxing, billiards, tennis, golf, plumbing, carpentry, target shooting, fly fishing, classic literature—he was a formidable master of it all. Stearns also collected rare books, collected and restored antique shotguns, and collected and refurbished vintage machines.
He loved with a fullness and gentle power that transformed and liberated all who knew him. To be near him was to find the best in yourself—to want to live the truth he saw in you.
Stearns was predeceased by his parents Esther Robinson White and Willard Stearns Caswell Sr., his brothers Robert and Charles Caswell. He is survived by a brother Claude Caswell (Jennifer), and sisters Alice Statham (Hershel), Catherine Hickson (John) and sister-in-law Sylvia Caswell. He is also survived by his wife of 32 years Rosemary DeLorenzo Caswell, children Cynthia Smith (Steven), Andrew Caswell, Catherine Caswell, and Dana Caswell (Sharon) and grandchildren Ryan, Connor, Tyler and Jennifer Smith, Amanda Caswell and Hayden Stearns Caswell Kendall. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 22nd at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Western Turnpike, Guilderland from 10:30-11:45am with memorial remarks immediately following. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stearns' name can be made to Food Pantries of the Capital District, 32 Essex St., Albany, NY 12206 or to Dutchess Outreach, 29 N. Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or to Good Shepherd Food Bank, 3121 Hotel Rd., Auburn, ME 04210.
W. Stearns Caswell, Jr. passed away Friday, September 22, 2017. He was 82. Stearns was born on March 31, 1935 and raised on a farm in rural Gray, Maine.
Stearns showed academic excellence early, becoming valedictorian of his class at the Pennell Institute in Gray, Maine. He went on to earn a Bachelor's and Master's in Mathematics at the University of Maine at Orono.
Stearns then taught mathematics at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Albany before finding his life's career as a researcher and planner for the Department of Transportation of the State of New York. During those thirty years of service he rose to Division Director of Planning and Research.
Besides his considerable professional achievements, however, Stearns was known to all who knew and loved him as a unique creative genius. Entirely self-taught and skilled in a range of expertise worthy of the title Renaissance Man. Stearns fiercely devoured arcane, intricate, technical knowledge and applied it with precision and panache. Chess, poker, boxing, billiards, tennis, golf, plumbing, carpentry, target shooting, fly fishing, classic literature—he was a formidable master of it all. Stearns also collected rare books, collected and restored antique shotguns, and collected and refurbished vintage machines.
He loved with a fullness and gentle power that transformed and liberated all who knew him. To be near him was to find the best in yourself—to want to live the truth he saw in you.
Stearns was predeceased by his parents Esther Robinson White and Willard Stearns Caswell Sr., his brothers Robert and Charles Caswell. He is survived by a brother Claude Caswell (Jennifer), and sisters Alice Statham (Hershel), Catherine Hickson (John) and sister-in-law Sylvia Caswell. He is also survived by his wife of 32 years Rosemary DeLorenzo Caswell, children Cynthia Smith (Steven), Andrew Caswell, Catherine Caswell, and Dana Caswell (Sharon) and grandchildren Ryan, Connor, Tyler and Jennifer Smith, Amanda Caswell and Hayden Stearns Caswell Kendall. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 22nd at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Western Turnpike, Guilderland from 10:30-11:45am with memorial remarks immediately following. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stearns' name can be made to Food Pantries of the Capital District, 32 Essex St., Albany, NY 12206 or to Dutchess Outreach, 29 N. Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or to Good Shepherd Food Bank, 3121 Hotel Rd., Auburn, ME 04210.
Stearns showed academic excellence early, becoming valedictorian of his class at the Pennell Institute in Gray, Maine. He went on to earn a Bachelor's and Master's in Mathematics at the University of Maine at Orono.
Stearns then taught mathematics at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Albany before finding his life's career as a researcher and planner for the Department of Transportation of the State of New York. During those thirty years of service he rose to Division Director of Planning and Research.
Besides his considerable professional achievements, however, Stearns was known to all who knew and loved him as a unique creative genius. Entirely self-taught and skilled in a range of expertise worthy of the title Renaissance Man. Stearns fiercely devoured arcane, intricate, technical knowledge and applied it with precision and panache. Chess, poker, boxing, billiards, tennis, golf, plumbing, carpentry, target shooting, fly fishing, classic literature—he was a formidable master of it all. Stearns also collected rare books, collected and restored antique shotguns, and collected and refurbished vintage machines.
He loved with a fullness and gentle power that transformed and liberated all who knew him. To be near him was to find the best in yourself—to want to live the truth he saw in you.
Stearns was predeceased by his parents Esther Robinson White and Willard Stearns Caswell Sr., his brothers Robert and Charles Caswell. He is survived by a brother Claude Caswell (Jennifer), and sisters Alice Statham (Hershel), Catherine Hickson (John) and sister-in-law Sylvia Caswell. He is also survived by his wife of 32 years Rosemary DeLorenzo Caswell, children Cynthia Smith (Steven), Andrew Caswell, Catherine Caswell, and Dana Caswell (Sharon) and grandchildren Ryan, Connor, Tyler and Jennifer Smith, Amanda Caswell and Hayden Stearns Caswell Kendall. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 22nd at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Western Turnpike, Guilderland from 10:30-11:45am with memorial remarks immediately following. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stearns' name can be made to Food Pantries of the Capital District, 32 Essex St., Albany, NY 12206 or to Dutchess Outreach, 29 N. Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or to Good Shepherd Food Bank, 3121 Hotel Rd., Auburn, ME 04210.
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