Dr. Walter Jackson Stark, 81, passed away peacefully on February 29, 2024, surrounded by his family in Sarasota, Florida.

Born to Walter Jackson Stark Sr. and Lucy Anderson Stark on August 21, 1942, in Oklahoma City, OK, he graduated from Harding High School in 1960, where he was a state champion swimmer. He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated from the College of Medicine in 1967. He completed both his residency training in Ophthalmology and fellowship in Cornea and External Diseases at the Wilmer Eye Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.  Dr. Stark also served as a physician at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Stark joined the Faculty of the Wilmer Institute in 1973 and was elevated to the rank of Professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins and served as Director of the Corneal and Cataract Services. Dr. Stark's distinguished professional career, spanning more than 50 years, led to his reputation as an internationally recognized leader in the areas of corneal surgery, corneal transplantation, intraocular lens implantation, and the use of the excimer laser.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology honored Dr. Stark with their Life Achievement award in 2015. He held the Dr. Walter J. Stark Chair in Ophthalmology and the Boone Pickens Professorship in Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University. He was a founding leader in establishing Medical Eye Banking of Maryland and Director of the Medical Board of Directors at Tissue Banks International.

Married to the love of his life, Polly, for 60 years, he was father to three wonderful children and grandfather "Poppy" to nine grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time between Baltimore, his home for over 40 years, Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Longboat Key, Florida. Walter loved traveling the world with his family, skiing, cycling on the boardwalk, relaxing on the beach, eating crabs, tending to his tomatoes, and feeding hummingbirds in his garden.

He is survived by Polly, children Heather Stark, Walter J. Stark III (Jay), Melissa Stark Lilley and grandchildren Matthew, Christopher, and Emma Anderson; Walter J. IV (Jack) and Henry Stark; Mikey, Jackson, Clara and Clemmie Lilley; and his siblings Penny Replogle, Susan Moorman and Jeff Moorman. He is pre-deceased by his parents, his second mother Mary Lou Stark, brother Stephen Stark, and sister Debbie White.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dr. Walter J. Stark to the University of Florida Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, PO Box100243, Gainesville, FL 32610. Donations will be used for research and treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

Published by Baltimore Sun on Mar. 3, 2024.