Walter John Fine passed away peacefully at home at the age of 99, surrounded by his loving family. While he spent his last year enjoying California sunshine with his daughter’s family, Walter was raised in Hoboken, New Jersey since the age of eight, and telling stories from his childhood was a favorite pastime. He loved his country and proudly served in the Navy during World War II. Thanks to the GI Bill, Walter completed his education, becoming a schoolteacher, and for 39 years, he was a devoted educator in the Hoboken school system—as a teacher, an elementary administrator, principal of Hoboken High, and finally, the Superintendent of Schools. He spoke of those years with great fondness and smiled while recalling his former students, even long after retirement.
The Hoboken school system is where he met his beloved wife, Mary Margaret Elizabeth Burke, a fellow teacher. While predeceased by Mary, he kept her memory alive daily by sharing stories of their beautiful life together. He referred to her affectionately as “my girl forever.” Walter and Mary traveled the world and raised their family to value education and to love learning about different places. Their children and grandchildren were their greatest joy, and they devoted much of their time to being part of their granddaughters’ lives. Walter’s legacy lives on through the family he loved so fiercely, as well as the thousands of students whose lives he shaped. He often commented that he was blessed to have a life with a good beginning, beautiful middle, and comfortable end.
He saw daily signs that Mary continued to watch over him and the family, and now, more than anything, we will take comfort in looking for the signs from our dear Poppy to let us know that he is also watching over us, as he once again sits side by side with our dear Nanny. In addition to being reunited with Mary, he is reunited with his parents, Michael Fine and Laura Melville Fine, and all of his siblings, Edward, Michael, Warren, Jack, and Lucille. He will be forever loved by his two sons, James (Cheryl) Fine and Michael (Aimée) Fine, his daughter Laura (James) Erlick, his granddaughters Danielle (John) Fine, Stephanie (Jeff) Fine, Nikki Erlick, and Landy Erlick, and his great-granddaughter, Genevieve Parron.
Visitation Saturday, Jaunary 3, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM at the Failla-McKnight Memorial Home, 533 Willow Avenue, Hoboken. Funeral Mass to follow at 10:30 AM at St. Lawrence Church, Weehawken. Entombment Holy Cross Mausoleum.