Stuart Leslie Malter passed away on November 26, 2021 after a brief illness. He was born September 20, 1942 in Brooklyn, NY to Frances Eisenberg and Harry Benjamin Malter. He grew up in Brooklyn, where he attended Hebrew School and was Bar-mitzvahed at the Avenue R Temple. He graduated from James Madison High School in 1959.
At age 17 Stuart joined the US Army and went through Army Ranger training and jump school. Stuart served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, doing three tours of duty in the war in Vietnam in 1965, 1967, and 1970. After honorable discharge in 1971, he traveled the world working in private security.
In 1985 he married Dr. Allison Johnson Dudley in Charlotte, NC. During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s Stuart was instrumental in the formation of the Metrolina Vietnam Veterans Association which brought together a diverse group of Vietnam veterans, many of whom did not fit into existing veterans’ organizations in the area. He was also a key member of the Mecklenburg County Vietnam Memorial Committee which broke ground on the Mecklenburg Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day in 1989. The granite memorial depicts a timeline of the Vietnam conflict and lists the names of those Mecklenburg County residents who were killed in the war. It was dedicated on Veterans Day 1989.
Stuart worked at home and abroad as a consultant to various US law enforcement and government agencies in the area of national security. A veteran impacted by both post-traumatic stress disorder and illness related to the use of Agent Orange during the war in Vietnam, he made several trips to Vietnam later in life that were reconciliatory and helped provide closure.
Stuart was a committed son-in-law, providing nearly daily support and attention to Allison’s father, Daniel Johnson, in his final years. He was also known to “adopt” older friends and neighbors, taking an interest both in their lives and past experiences, but also their well-being later in life. He hosted a high school exchange student from Brazil and visitors and colleagues from many countries including England, Italy, Russia, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Nigeria. In recent years Stuart further developed a long-standing interest in restoration, preservation, and collection of antiques and antiquities. Building on a practice of collecting and trading law enforcement pins and patches, Stuart focused on collecting weights and scales, ancient cylinder seals, Roman glass, medical instruments, and globes and maps. He was a docent at the Mint Museum and on the Board of Discovery Place.
Stuart was proceeded in death by his father, his stepfather Max Koch, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law. He is survived by his mother, Fran Koch, siblings Judy Malter and Jeffrey Malter, nieces and nephews, wife Allison Malter, and step-son Jonathan Dudley.
Arrangements are being made for a private service with full military rights at St Mary’s Chapel near the Mecklenburg Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Thompson Park for January 2022. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Gold Star Fund of the Sky Soldiers Foundation: in c/o Tim Austin, 13148 Chinkatin Oak Place, Choctaw, OK 73020 or <https://skysoldiersfoundation.org/Gold-Star-Assistance-Fund/>
Stuart never met a stranger and had an uncanny ability to find deep connections with almost anyone he met, and was quick to offer support or assistance to new friends. We know that he lives on through these many connections made and relationships built down the street and around the world. We welcome you to contribute your memories of Stuart to the CCFC Tribute wall.
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