Longtime Plaistow, N.H. Police Chief Stephen C. Savage, of Plaistow passed away Friday, July 11 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in Windsor, Vt., son of the late Clarence A. and Ruth (Johnson) Savage. Educated in the Claremont, NH school system he graduated from Stevens High School, class of 1965.
Chief Savage earned his Bachelor’s Degree, with honor’s, in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in 1974. During the Vietnam War he served in the United States Air Force as a Security Police K-9 Handler attaining the rank of E-4 Sergeant. He received a National Defense Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallanting Cross with Palm and a Vietnam Service Medal with four Battle Stars. He joined the Newport, NH Police Department in 1969, and, from 1971 to 1972 worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration. From 1975 to 1977 Chief Savage resided in Maryland and was a member of the Baltimore Police Tactical unit where he received a Bronze Star and Four Commendation Ribbons. He came back to New Hampshire and was named Chief of Police for the Haverhill, NH, Police Department serving from 1977 to 1986. In 1986 he became chief of the Plaistow Police Department.
Chief Savage was Past President of both the New Hampshire Chiefs of Police Association and Rockingham County Chiefs of Police Association, and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, New England Association of Chiefs of Police, Vietnam Security Police Association and Vietnam Dog Handlers Association. He enjoyed spending time with his boys and also playing racquetball and hunting. Chief Savage was actively involved with Friends of Plaistow Recreation for several years and coached baseball for Plaistow Recreation. The “Run of the Savages” was organized in his honor by his family and Pollard School to benefit The Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
His survivors include his wife of 14 years, Atty. Kristin E. Lewis Savage; two sons, William Robert Lewis Savage and Michael Stephen Lewis Savage all of Plaistow, NH; a sister, Charlotte Sundstrom and her husband Jon of Jamesville, VA; and several nieces and nephews. He was the son-in-law of William and Janet Lewis of Plaistow.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral Service on Tuesday, July 15 at 11:00 at Rockingham Church, 90 Newton Rd. Plaistow. Interment with Air Force honors will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Plaistow. At the family’s request, private calling hours will be held on Monday, July 14 followed by a law enforcement tribute. Contributions in his memory may be made to the 100 Club of New Hampshire, 196 Meetinghouse Rd., Bedford, NH 03110, or, Run of the Savages, payable/delivered to Pollard School, 120 Main Street, Plaistow, NH 03865.