Randolph “Wally” Meyer — a beloved Westporter, former RTM member and 2nd selectman, former Rotary president and longtime justice of the peace — died Saturday. He was 91.
In typical Wally Meyer fashion, his obituary notes that he was born in Mount Vernon, New York; graduated from high school in Rochester, and “not having ‘bone spurs,’ he enlisted in the Army for 3 years.”
He was posted to the 25th Division as a squad leader, and served in Korea from August 1951 to May 1952.
Wally finished his military obligation in Germany, and traveled extensively in Europe. He attended Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in London, and Bastille Day in Paris.
Wally Meyer
Wally used the GI Bill to attend Union College. After graduating in 1957, he joined IBM. He spent 20 years there, then left to establish Westport Marketing, a computer leasing company.
Wally served 12 terms on the RTM, and 4 as 2nd selectman, under Democratic 1st selectman Martha Hauhuth.
Wally was a founder of Project Return — the North Compo Road home for teenage girls and young women — and was its treasurer for 12 years.
He then joined the board of Mid-Fairfield AIDS Project, and spent 25 years as treasurer.
In addition to his service with the Westport Rotary Club (including president), he was a justice of the peace for 18 years. In March of 2020, in the early days of the pandemic, he officiated at an impromptu wedding on Old Mill Beach, across from his home. (Click here for that “06880” story.)
Wally Meyer (left) prepares for a marriage ceremony at Old Mill Beach.
Wally’s obituary calls him “a strong globalist. He believed that some day the world will have a single government.” It also includes a quote from William Penn: “For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.”
Wally was predeceased by his sons John and Kevin Meyer, and his stepdaughter Susan Lloyd.
He is survived by “Mother Earth, he hopes:; his wife Joan Beauvais; and stepsons James Meyer of Trumbull, William Lloyd of Westport, David Lloyd of Canton, Connecticut, Douglas Lloyd of Sacramento, and Bob Beauvais of Grapevine, Texas.
Per Wally’s request, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Susan Fund, 458 Newtown Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851.