Walter W. Curley, 92, of Yarmouth, MA and Walpole, NH, passed away peacefully at home in Walpole, NH, Tuesday, January 12th, 2016. He was the husband of the late Marie(Sullivan) Curley. Born in Boston. March 29th, 1923, he was the oldest son of Walter C. Curley and Lillian Berg.

Walter attended Northeastern University and was a pitcher for the Baseball team, where he was scouted by the Boston Braves and Red Sox. In his third year at Northeastern, he enlisted in the Army (WWII - 1945) for four years and was promoted to Captain. He remained in the Army Reserves from 1942-1962 and was promoted to the rank of Major. Upon his return from Germany, he and his younger brother, John F. Curley of Yarmouth Port, MA were students at Northeastern and they graduated together in 1947, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1947. He continued his education, receiving his Master’s Degree in Library Science from Simmons College in 1950. That same year, Walter met Marie T. Sullivan, his late wife of 25 years, at a library conference. They both had illustrious careers making quite a difference from their work with the Dewey Decimal System to the mechanized data processing system for the Suffolk County Library System, which took many years of development and cooperation with IBM. He presented the 28-page article written by him, edited and typed by Marie at an Illinois University venue. “1965 Proceedings of the Clinic on Library Applications of Data”.

Walter worked as a Librarian and Business Consultant. In 1968, Massachusetts Governor Francis Sargent appoints Walter as a Director to the Massachusetts State Library Board of Directors. From 1970-74, he was director of the Cleveland Public Library. In 1976, President Gerald Ford appoints him as an Advisor/Director for the Library of Congress. 1974-1980, he was president of Gaylord Brothers. He retired in 1980, at the age of 57 to the Blue Rock Golf Course. Walter remained active in the community fund raising for the Cape Cod Library System, receiving recognition of an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the CC Library System (CLAMS).

In 1991, along with a partner, he was a proprietor of the Cape Cod based magazine, The Review-Arts & Antiques, as well as the Cove Communications Corporation in Chatham, MA; which published the Cape Cod Home & Garden” magazines. Mr. Curley assumed the positions as the magazine’s publisher and president. He served on several Cape Cod library boards and owned two radio stations in Milford, CT and Berlin, NH. Walter enjoyed numerous hobbies including sports, especially baseball and golf (he golfed his age at 65 at the Blue Rock Golf course on Cape Cod). He loved his home on Cape Cod and residence in Walpole, NH.

He is survived by his daughters, Celeste Curley, Carolyn Thompson, Victoria Buttimer & Alice & EddieTobin; his sister-in-law, JoAnn Curley, wife of the late John F. Curley; his brother and their children, John & Elaine Curley, Susan & Dewitt Davenport, Robert Curley, Mary Wheeler, JoAnne & Stephen Lake, and Thomas Curley. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren,10 great nieces and nephews and especially the following friends of Walpole, NH, Holly Cadwallader, Lynette Johnson, Chris Tyson, Raynie Laware, Karen Crowley, Gerry Chandler, Patty Neal, David Forbes, Bill Perron, David Decoste, John & Carol Hubbard, Tom Murray, Amie Thayer, Seth & Corey Palmiter, Ken Burns, all his friends from Burdick’s and his beloved cat, Mikey.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, January 19th, 2016, from 10 - 11a.m. in the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Avenue, South Yarmouth, MA; followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:30a.m., in St. Pius X Church, Station Ave, South Yarmouth. Interment will be held in Woodside Cemetery, Summer St, Yarmouth Port, MA

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