Walter (Wally) Joseph Sutherland, age 77, beloved husband of Patricia (Patsy) Powell Sutherland, of Westport, passed away on Saturday February 25, 2017 at home with his loving wife and daughters by his side.

Sutherland enjoyed a successful 45 year run in the financial industry in New York, he earned the nickname “Wall Street Wally.” True to form, colleagues said that that Sutherland embraced each day, including his commute to and from Manhattan, saying he didn’t feel like he worked a day in his entire life.  He last worked as an equities trader at Ladenburg Thalman and had done stints at Punk Zeigel, Needen and First Albany. In his later years, he dedicated his time as a volunteer at Norwalk Hospital.

As his obituary wrote, “A true Irishman, Wally’s presence was larger than life. He was never short on stories or a great joke, and always the life of the party. Wally was one of a kind, a true legend… Semper Fi!”

According to Nanette Buziak, Managing Director and Head of Equity Trading at Voya Investment Management, “he will be missed sorely.”

Buziak continued.

“Wally was a man who was larger than life, a true class act who had a long career on the Street and would often tell great stories about our industry before things evolved to where they are today,” she recalled. ”He considered himself truly blessed and was a devout Irish Catholic who loved most of all his wife Patsy, his family, his country and all those that crossed his path in life. He always found a way to brighten up a room and could make you laugh so hard in the first few minutes of speaking to him to the point that your stomach would hurt and your eyes would be tearing up. He would give you the shirt of his back if you needed it and always had a knack for knowing when someone was going through a rough time and he would always lift you up.”

Born May 7th, 1939 in Jackson Heights, NY to Walter and Veronica Hogan Sutherland, he attended St. Francis University before graduating from NYU. It was during those college years at St. Francis that he met the love of his life, Patsy Powell. He went onto serve his country in the United States Marine Corps where he achieved the badge of Expert Rifle Marksmanship. A devout Catholic and lifelong conservative, Wally was a dedicated member of the Republican Party.

Wally’s greatest accomplishment was being the patriarch to his family. In addition to Patsy, his devoted wife of 50 years, his memory will be cherished by his four daughters, Susan Berry and her husband John of Marblehead MA, Courtney Petti and her husband John of Fairfield, Sarah Menninger and her husband Chris of Westport, Kate Florian and her husband Dan of Westport, and fourteen grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, March 1st from 5-8 PM in the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, in Fairfield Center. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 2nd at 11:00 AM directly at Saint Luke Church, 84 Long Lots Road, Westport with his interment to follow in Willowbrook Cemetery, Westport.

Memorial contributions may be directed to: Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org). To order flowers online, travel directions, or to sign his guest register, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com.