Valley Central Education Foundation Board Members

By Jared Castañeda

Residents of Montgomery stood in silence after Walt Lindner, a 50-year village resident and former trustee, passed away on Sunday, May 19. Linder was incredibly dedicated to the village and served numerous facets of the community, always there to lend an ear, help a resident in need, or show his friends a good time.

Lindner was born on March 14, 1946, in Munich, Germany, and was raised by his late parents, Walter and Maria Linder. Around 1952, Lindner and his family immigrated to America and lived in Sparta, New Jersey, where he attended school and learned to speak English. He graduated from Sparta High School in the early 1960s and received his bachelor’s in political science from Villanova University in 1968. After graduating from Villanova, Linder dabbled in teaching but spent 40 years as a regional and national salesman for Dow Chemical, a global chemical and plastic producer.

“He was a family man; he traveled a bit but mainly worked from home and coached my Little League team,” said Mike Linder, Walt’s son. “He was there for me and my wife, providing support and guidance. We had a close relationship and shared similar outlooks on life.”

In 1974, Lindner’s family sought a more affordable home and moved to the Village of Montgomery, where Lindner lived for the next semi-century. After retiring from Dow Chemical, he put all his time and energy into supporting his community however he could, taking up numerous government positions and volunteer opportunities. Linder served on the village’s town and planning boards, the Montgomery Fire District’s board of directors, and the town’s assessment and review board. He enjoyed listening to residents and encouraged diverse, local businesses to set up shop in the village.

“I loved working with Walt, his heart was in everything he did,” said Steve Brescia, Town of Montgomery’s supervisor, who met Linder 30 years ago and worked with him on the village board. “If I asked him to do a project, he dove right in. He was a class act.”

“He was a true gentleman, really positive and a visionary. He wanted the best for the town,” said Parinaz Mokhtari, owner of the Montgomery Montessori School. “He always advocated for local businesses. He got to know the owners, listened to their stories and visions, and encouraged them.”

Lindner worked with several committees to organize the General Montgomery and Memorial Day parades, the summer concert series, St. Mary Church’s Oktoberfest, and other village events. An avid sports fan, he coached Montgomery’s Little League and CYO Basketball teams for several years. He served on the board of directors for the Valley Central Education Foundation, supporting the district and its students, and Inspire, formerly the Cerebral Palsy Center.

“Walt was the consummate gentleman, an amazing human being, and a natural leader. One of his greatest qualities was that he always listened first and made time for everyone,” said Brian Fitzpatrick, the village historian, who met Linder in 2009 after he retired. “We shared countless conversations about the future vision for the village we love, but no topic was ever more exciting or more important than talking about our grandchildren! I was so very fortunate to call Walt my friend.”

One of Lindner’s proudest accomplishments was forming the Montgomery Men’s Breakfast Club in 2005; this group comprised over a dozen residents who socialized and enjoyed many outings together, from bowling nights to beer gatherings. He strived to provide amenities to seniors and had a major hand in helping the village obtain its bandstand on Clinton Street. Most recently, Lindner was part of the “Big Three” with Fitzpatrick and Marc Devitt, who worked together to secure $4.5 million from the NY Forward grant program.

“In your life, you have friends and people you admire. Walt is the one person that combines both attributes,” said Joe Saul, a town resident, and friend who met Lindner while coaching Little League 44 years ago. “Walt had the ability to draw people into community action, and it was for the better.”

“Walt was involved in everything and every event. He was very active and a positive influence on everyone,” said Pat Kelleher, another friend who met Lindner through St. Mary’s Church 25 years ago. “When something was good, he made it better. When something was not good, he made it less so.”

Kelleher added that Lindner was “a man for all seasons,” prepared for any situation or challenge that came his way. His efforts touched countless lives and his legacy will always be remembered in Montgomery’s history.