A Super Saugus Citizen

William Stewart honored for “50 years of dedicated service” as Town Meeting member

  At the beginning of their Tuesday night meeting, selectmen paid tribute to William B. Stewart for his half century of service as a Town Meeting member representing Precinct 3. “There’s not a lot of things people can do 50 years at,” Selectman Corinne Riley said of Stewart, who was first elected as a Town Meeting member in 1968.

  “It’s truly remarkable to be so dedicated,” Selectman Jeff Cicolini said. “We need more people like you in town,” he said, adding that Stewart “set the standard for what it is to be a proud Saugonian.”

  Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta called him “such an inspiration… You’ve done so much for our town.”

  Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano called Stewart “a great man.”

  Selectman Mike Serino noted that Stewart has been somewhat of a legend, serving Saugus local government for so long.

  Selectmen presented a special citation to Stewart. State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) also attended the meeting to honor him with a legislative commendation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives for “50 Years of Dedicated Service as a Town Meeting Member.”

  Stewart told the gathering in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall, “I’ve enjoyed town politics.” He thanked the people of Precinct 3 “for selecting me 25 times.”

  He was born in Saugus, where he has lived most of his life, and is a 1952 graduate of Saugus High School. He is a U.S. Army veteran who served for three years during the Korean War. He was stationed for part of that time in Japan. He also served for three years with the Massachusetts National Guard. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Boston University in 1964 and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University in 1968. He also graduated from the General Electric Apprentice Program and the Lowell Institute School at MIT. Stewart is a retired computer consultant who once owned his own company. He taught computer science courses at Bunker Hill Community College and North Shore Community College.

  During his time as a Town Meeting member, he served as an assistant moderator under former Town Moderator Richard Barry. He also served a term on the Saugus School Committee and as chairman of the original Charter Commission. He is currently a member of the Saugus Housing Authority and the Affordable Housing Trust. He has been a member of the East Saugus United Methodist Church for almost 70 years.

  Stewart and his wife Pauline recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They have six grown children and 12 grandchildren. A huge advocate of education, Stewart prides himself on the fact that all of his children are college graduates and two received master’s degrees. Ten of his grandchildren are also college graduates.

  Stewart is a huge sports fan who shares his perspective in his column, “The Old Sachem,” which is a weekly feature of The Saugus Advocate.