Officer Walwyn W. Stuart, Jr.

PAPD

Officer Stuart's Act of Heroism

Over 400 first responders lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Heroically performing their sworn duty, these firefighters, members of the NYPD and PAPD, and numerous other rescue workers will forever be remembered for their sacrifice.

My Hero

Oh, the mouth he had, that Walwyn Stuart.

His smile was incandescent, and his kisses ever-flowing. His wife, Thelma, used to chide him over his enthusiasm for his newborn daughter "You're going to smother her!" and Mrs. Stuart didn't much like it when he came after her with his hugs and smooches. Well, actually, she did. Just not all the time.

Mr. Stuart, 28, was a Port Authority police officer who loved his family, chess and the Lord. He had been a narcotics detective with the New York City police, but switched jobs after Mrs. Stuart became pregnant because he wanted a safer assignment. He became a father last year, and when he worked late, nothing meant more to him than returning home to Valley Stream, N.Y., and holding little Amanda. He was great with children, but Mrs. Stuart would sometimes look on, just a little worried.

"I would be like, `Honey, that's enough,' " Mrs. Stuart said. "He once said to me, `You know, you never know when the day is going to come and you are going to want that hug from me and I'm not going to be there for you.' "

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on November 4, 2001.
Information courtesy of the Remember 9/11/2001 memorial site on legacy.com