Milton Sprague Stearns Jr.

1923 - 2015

Milton Stearns Jr., formerly of Gladwyne Milton Sprague Stearns, Jr., 91, of Delray Beach, FL (and formerly a longtime resident of Gladwyne, PA) died Monday, March 30, 2015 in Boynton Beach, FL. Mr. Stearns was former Chairman of Judson Infrared, Inc. as well as founder and President of Charter Financial Company. Mr. Stearns was a former Group Vice President of the Fidelity Bank (now Wells Fargo) prior to establishing Charter Financial, Co., a financial consulting firm. Over the years he served as a member of the Boards of Directors for numerous companies including: The West Company ( now West Pharmaceutical Services Inc.), Safeguard Industries, CFM Technologies, Kawecki Berylco Industries, National Valve and Manufacturing Co., Zabel Brothers Inc., Mother’s Work, and Gulfstream Land and Development Corp. In addition, from 1976 forward, he was identified with a number of venture capital start-up companies, principally in the high technology field. Born in New York City, Mr. Stearns grew up in New England, and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard University and Harvard Business School. At Harvard he belonged to the Spee Club and Hasty Pudding Institute 1770. Commissioned Lt. (j.g.) USNR during World War II, he served as Navigator of LST 826 in the Pacific, participating in the invasion of Okinawa. Active in various charitable and educational institutions, Mr. Stearns also served at various times as a member of the Board of Trustees of Hahnemann University, the Baldwin School, and The Franklin Institute. Most recently, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of The Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and served as its President 1993-1995. Subsequent to that, he was President of the Main Line Adult Day Center. Mr. Stearns was also an avid sportsman—a skier, a tennis player, and a golfer. At his death he belonged to numerous clubs in the Philadelphia and Delray Beach, FL areas, including Merion Golf Club, Merion Cricket Club, The Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, The Little Club, The Delray Beach Club, and The Country Club of Florida. He was predeceased in 2012 by his wife Virginia after sharing nearly 64 years in marriage. He was likewise predeceased by two children, Elizabeth in 1969 and John in 1997. He is survived by three daughters, Ginny, Barbara and Kathy and four grandchildren, Gianna, Amy, Mark and Christopher. Services for Mr. Stearns will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 in the chapel of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, PA. A private interment will be held later at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF), P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515, or to The First Tee of the Palm Beaches, 7301 N Haverhill Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33407. Lorne & Sons Funeral Home in Delray Beach, FL and Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home in Ardmore, PA.