Burton “Burt” Stallwood, 86, of Fairfax, Va., formerly of Lincoln, passed away peacefully Thursday, May 7, in the presence of his loving family.
A distinguished public servant, community leader, and devoted family man, Burt leaves behind a legacy of extraordinary service to the state of Rhode Island and the town of Lincoln.
As the son of the late Harold and Margaret G. (Giblin) Stallwood, Burt was born on Sept. 17, 1939, in Attleboro, Mass. He graduated from Tolman High School in Pawtucket before continuing his education at Johnson & Wales University, where he earned an associate degree in Business Administration. He later advanced his leadership training at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, completing a program for senior executives in state and local government.
Burt married his high school sweetheart, Jane, in 1963. They made their home in Lincoln, where he remained active in civic life for decades.
Burt proudly served his country in the United States Air Force beginning in 1960, attaining the rank of E-4 prior to his honorable discharge.
After completing his military service, he returned to Rhode Island and entered the private sector, establishing and operating the Stallwood Insurance and Real Estate Agency from 1964 to 1972.
In 1973, Burt was elected Town Administrator of the Town of Lincoln, Rhode Island, beginning a remarkable tenure that spanned 28 years. As the longest-serving municipal chief executive in the town’s history, he guided Lincoln through decades of growth and change, earning widespread respect for his steady leadership and dedication to the community.
Throughout his early and mid-career, Burt was actively involved in the Rhode Island Jaycees (Junior Chamber), serving as the President of the Rhode Island chapter and later National Vice President. He was awarded the designation of JCI Senator (#11275), a national lifetime honor conferred by Junior Chamber International for outstanding leadership and sustained service.
Following his long municipal career, Burt was nominated by President George W. Bush in June 2002 to serve as United States Marshal for the District of Rhode Island. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on Aug. 1, 2002, and went on to serve for seven years.
Throughout his career, Burt held numerous influential positions at both the state and national level. He served on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities and contributed to its Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Steering and Advisory Committees. His public service also included roles on the Governor’s Growth Planning Council, the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Appointments, as an executive board liaison to the Governor through the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, the Rhode Island Solid Waste Management Corporation, and the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor Commission. He later served as a delegate on the United States Envoy to the Baltic States Foundation, where he helped teach democratic principles to emerging leaders.
Burt’s civic and community involvement was extensive. He was an active member of many organizations including the Blackstone Valley Historical Society, Save the Bay, the Knights of Columbus, the American Cancer Society, and the Rhode Island Zoological Society.
He also played a role in national political life, with affiliations that included chairing the Rhode Island Reagan-Bush Election Committee, serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and on the Republican National Platform Committee.
His many achievements were recognized through numerous honors, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Johnson & Wales University and induction into the Cumberland-Lincoln Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame. The state of Rhode Island formally honored his service by proclaiming Oct. 26, 1998, as “Burton Stallwood Appreciation Day,” and May 6, 2001, as “Burt Stallwood Recognition Day,” in recognition of his lasting contributions to the state and its citizens.
Beyond formal office, Burt had been deeply involved in community and church life, particularly at St. Ambrose Church in Albion, where he served as a Eucharistic minister and parish trustee. In 2017, he was honored with the Lumen Gentium Award for Public Service, presented by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, recognizing a lifetime of faithful and ethical public leadership.
Burt was an avid golfer and longtime member of Kirkbrae Country Club. He also enjoyed skiing and loved spending time by the ocean prior to relocating to Virginia.
Above all, Burt was devoted to his family. He is survived by his three loving children: Scott Stallwood and his wife, Becky (DiMilia), of Flemington, N.J.; Gregg Stallwood and his wife, Gail (LaMarca), of Palm Harbor, Fla.; and Tracey Gardiner and her husband, Ed, of Springfield, Va. He is also survived by his eleven beloved grandchildren: Patrick Stallwood and his wife, Christina; Emma, Elise, Tyler and Cassie Stallwood; Elena Poole and her husband, Channing; John Gardiner and his wife, Sarah (Helweg); Elizabeth Salazar and her husband, Alex; and Ward, Colson and Erin Gardiner. He is further survived by his six great-grand children: Nina, Edie, Rhodes, Josie, James and Abigail; as well as his sisters, Carol Miles, Margaret Stallwood and Deborah Stallwood. He was the brother of the late Harold Stallwood Jr. and Kathryn Kitchen.
His Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, May 22 at 10 a.m. at Saint Ambrose Church, 191 School St., Albion. His burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland. Please go directly to the Church on Friday morning. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Burt’s memory to National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, Attleboro, Mass., would be appreciated. For directions, or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.bellowsfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements are with Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln.
