During a county commissioners’ presentation at the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department banquet Saturday, Feb. 22, Calvert County Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R] emotionally recounted a magnanimous gesture performed by another county volunteer unit that week. Clark told about how his longtime friend, Alton Kersey had been discharged from a hospital and “sent home to die.” Kersey’s long health battle was nearing an end and the family requested a local ambulance come and take him to his home in Solomons. The Solomons Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department answered that call and the responders then honored another request made by Kersey to drive him around the island so he could have one final look.
Kersey, who was 82, passed away Feb. 20, two days after his final tour of Solomons Island.
Last Oct. 8 the island’s Watermen’s Memorial Garden, located across Route 2 from the Lore Oyster House, was dedicated in his honor. With a large gathering of friends and fellow citizens in attendance and plenty of patriotic pageantry, a plaque was unveiled. The ailing Kersey stood at the podium, enduring a strong wind gust to say thank you one more time. The Petersburg, VA native was credited with leading the citizens’ push to improve Solomons’ aesthetics and amenities. That drive began in the 1980s and took nearly 30 years. The effort involved procurement of public funds and raising of private funds,
Late Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, the Calvert County Commissioners recessed to attend services for Kersey at Middleham Chapel.
In addition to being the de facto, or “honorary” mayor of the unincorporated town of Solomons, Kersey was a founder of Calvert Marine Museum, a past member of the Calvert County Planning Commission, a past commodore of the Solomons Island Yacht Club and a member of the Calvert Memorial Hospital Board.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joann and two daughters, and was predeceased by a son.
The Bay Net’s story on the Watermen’s Memorial Garden Dedication ceremony http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/33971
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
