Walter J. Cairns ’48


Walter J. Cairns ’48 of Marblehead, Massachusetts, died on December 22, 2011, surrounded by his family. Walt graduated from the Melrose, Massachusetts, high school at age 16 and joined Dartmouth until the end of his junior year, when he entered the Army, serving in the 24th Division in the occupation of Japan. After his discharge he returned to Dartmouth, securing his A.B. in 1949 and a Tuck/Thayer master’s in 1951. After graduation, with a Thayer School faculty member, he formed the Browning Torch Co. to develop the first commercial oxy-gasoline cutting torch. In 1955 he joined Arthur D. Little to pursue his interest in commercializing new technical developments. He was made VP of Arthur D. Little and later president and CEO of a firm subsidiary established to encompass invention management and venture capital activities. He was a founder, trustee and secretary of the Licensing Executive Society, an organization with hundreds of members throughout the world. Walt enjoyed hockey, tennis, skiing and roller-blading into his 70s and golf in his 80s. He was a member of the Eastern Yacht Club for 51 years. He and his wife, Mary Lane, were well known for their racing and cruising accomplishment in a series of yachts named Nixie. Walt served on the class executive committee for several years and in 2011 was president of his regional Dartmouth club. He is survived by Mary Lane, five children and 14 grandchildren.