Wallace E. "Wally" Stickney

1934 - 2019

Wallace E. Stickney passed away on June 27th following a brief illness. He was born in Salem New Hampshire on November 24, 1934 to Mr. and Mrs. Walter K. Stickney and was the last surviving sibling of the North Salem family.

Wally graduated from Woodbury High School and was active in sports and education. He was the Captain of the 1951 WHS football team and won the Board of Trade Athletic Award. He graduated in 1959 from New England College with a BS in Civil Engineering and was unanimously appointed in 1965 by the Board of Selectman as the first official Town Engineer. Town Manager Frederick T. Staples made the recommendation and was quoted in the paper stating, "I think he will make an excellent engineer".

Little did he know how prophetic that statement would be; It is easy to forget that the Salem NH of today is very different from the Salem NH that Wally grew up in. During his short three (3) year stint as Town Engineer he started or finished projects that secured the future growth and prosperity of the Town. Salem High School, Geremonty Drive, the Town Municipal office and the water treatment plant were designed and completed. Three (3) elementary schools - North Salem, Barron and Lancaster were finished within the same year to meet the surging demand.

During that same time period, Wally started his public service career that would become the dominant feature of his life. He was a long time Salem volunteer fireman; he served on the Salem Planning Board and as the commissioner of the Southern Rockingham Regional Planning Commission. After working at the Environmental Protection Agency in Boston and earning Masters' Degrees from Northeastern University (M.S.) and Harvard University (M.P.A), he worked as special assistant for environmental affairs to Governor John H. Sununu from 1983 to 1985. After that, he served as the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation from 1985 to 1990. All one has to do to appreciate Wally's vision and determination is drive the beautiful 8-mile Franconia Parkway, originally planned as a 4-lane highway in 1959 and finally completed as a parkway in 1988.

In 1990 Wally was nominated and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President George H. W. Bush. Once again, Wally's steel was tested during Hurricane Andrew. Although FEMA's role in natural disasters is obvious today, the FEMA of the 1990's primary focus was the Cold War era "Continuation of Government" (COG) in the event of a Soviet Nuclear attack. Wally took the heat, never complained and began the process to "turn the ship" and make the FEMA the Federal Government's primary response to state and local disasters.

Wally left the Federal Government in 1993 and became chairman and Senior Associate for Municipal Resources, Inc. With his vast experience at the local, state and federal levels of government, he did what he did best, solving thorny local issues, many times filling in as a town or city's interim Fire Chief, Public Works Director and even as the Airport Manager all while overseeing the hiring of the permanent replacement. Last year he was honored to accept the first "Sununu-Roy" Public Service Legacy Award for career public service.

Wally was a lifetime member of the North Salem United Methodist Church and was a beloved elder. Baptized in the church as a baby he continued to attend until his passing. When his sons were young, he was the Scout Leader of BSA Troop 408 and focused the scouts on outdoor activities. Every summer they spent a week at Mead Wilderness Base, a Daniel Webster Council high adventure camp in Center Sandwich, New Hampshire. One year, in true Wally fashion, the 50-mile, 5-day White Mountain backpacking trip became an 82-mile adventure. The boys were tired, a little sore and very proud! Later in life, Wally cherished his grandchildren and enjoyed special trips and spending time with them.

Wally is predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Nancy Carver Stickney from Bethel, Maine and his grandson Timothy Stickney from Gorham, Maine. Family members include his sons, Peter Stickney and wife Diane from Wesley Chapel, Florida, Christopher Stickney and wife Melody from Naples, Maine, Daniel and Kathy Stickney from Indianapolis, Indiana and Adam and Tracy Stickney from Raymond, New Hampshire and grandchildren Jacqueline, Morgan, Katherine, Jennifer, Riley and Conley.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 8th from 4-8 PM at the Carrier Family Funeral Home, 38 Range Rd, Windham, NH. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10:30 AM at the funeral home. Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of NH, 166 So. River road, Bedford, NH 03110. For directions or to send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.carrierfuneralhome.com