Echoing the others, Walter was always a larger-than-life character. Hard to believe he's gone. Sympathies to his family. He will be warmly remembered by all of us who knew him.
Ah, Walter. Always brilliantly hilarious. I remember when he first arrived in H.P. and I asked him over for a play date, because I wanted to get to know him. That very first time, he floored me with one of the funniest (and most witty) things a 6th Grader (or whatever it was) could say.
We were having a snack, probably french fries, and I commented on the enormous about of ketchup he used. "Oh, that," he said, deadpan. "I have a low ketchup count." We were never hang out buddies, but were always friendly. I remember I was almost sorry that the two of us ran for Student Council President. I think there were at least three recounts, and I won by maybe a vote or two. Largely, I admit, because my younger brother Tom was a freshman and got a ton of his friends etc. to vote me. Otherwise, I know that the more intelligent upperclass students would have voted him in. Of course. They knew me - so knew better than to vote for a contrary pot-smoking hippie instead of a serious, intelligent and mature young man, which Wally was.
We both ended up going to Yale, and I ran into him a few time - I think we shared an organic chemistry class together. I know he must have been brilliant there too. But that's just a logical guess. Because I ended ujp dropping the class, and my pre-med illusions. But Wally went on to become a fine physician. I don't think I'd seen Walter since freshman year in New Haven - but I have always remembered him fondly, with respect for his intelligence - but especially his original and unique sense of humor.
I had the distinct privilege of being in Homeroom with Walter. Meeting him was one of the biggest shocks of my high school life, arriving at HPHS from the small pond of Catholic school. I could never have imagined that high school freshmen could be fully-grown adults . . . but Walter! He continued to be a delightful force to be reckoned with, all four years. I am so very sorry to hear of his passing, and so very NOT surprised at the huge success he continued to be.
Our senior year, Walter, Marianne Newman, and I were in Student Stunts as a "blackout trio," doing short, corny comedy bits. At the ultimate performance, the lighting tech decided it would be hilarious to have the spotlight go off in a different direction than the actors. I was peeved, but Walter was furious. Marianne and I had to talk him down from charging upstairs during the show.
Barbara Greener had her heart set on casting Walter to play Willy Loman in our senior production of "Death of a Salesman." I only got the role because Walter decided not to do it.
Whereas many of us at HPHS were groping for a way forward in life that somehow bridged the gap between our pre-professional upbringing and the counter-cultural, artistic zeitgeist, Walter seemed to know from day one where he was headed, and pursued his medical ambitions with singular focus. It obviously paid off big time, not only for him, but for all the lives he helped as a doctor and teacher.
Walter reached out to me a few years ago, and we kept in touch sporadically. We had photography in common (terrestrial for Walter, astronomical for me), and we shared images as we caught up on our careers and families. I'm sorry for his absence going forward. Condolences to all his friends and family.
At the National Honor Society induction ceremony, we posed for a group shot. As the photographer was setting up, Walter moaned loudly: "Oh God, I sure hope this helps get me into a college." Everyone laughed. We might all have been thinking it, but who else would say it out loud?
In Mr. Becker's US history class, we were all to perform skits portraying historical figures. Walter chose to depict Franklin Roosevelt suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage. It seemed very authentic.
During high school, Walter worked at Highland Park Hospital as an orderly. When my dad was briefly hospitalized, Walter made a point of visiting him, and assuring me that he was all right.
Thank you all for these comments. They make Wally come alive. I wish I had known himr, I only have the vaguest memories. From reading these and his obituary, it sounds like he had a full and rewarding life of work and family.
This is a story that I heard from Jim Schuster. Jim, Jeff Melvoin, and Walter were together in a class (possibly History). The three were getting a bit rowdy. Apparently this was a recurring issue.
The teacher reached her boiling point and determined to end the interruptions by saying the following:
"Jim - shut up."
"Jeff - shut up."
"Walter - leave the room!"
I didn't know Walter well, but I did like him and respect him.
As mentioned, these stories are so vivid! Walter's spontaneous classroom humor, starting right off the bat at Edgewood, was often so on point, it defied traditional disciplinary measures. The mention of his drama work in high school, especially freshman year, is yet another less frequently remembered aspect of Mrs. Greener's eye for enormous talent. In the 1960's-1970's, many people were less likely to speak of their family history. From what I can read now, the rich and long history of Walter's southern Jewish family in Louisana could have been a tremendous education for us all. His spectacular and unique brilliance shall be missed.
Having not seen Walter since high school, in my memory he's forever young and larger than life. His death was news that he was neither, and it hit me unexpectedly hard. I hope that knowing how many of us hold his memory dear after all these years will be of some consolation to his loved ones. All the best.
Upon first meeting Walter, I thought he was years older than all of us, with all that facial hair. He was always smiling and joking, always carrying his briefcase between classes. While I was not a close friend of Walter, whenever we spoke with each other he made you feel like one.
My thoughts and prayers to Susan and the family. Walter, rest in peace and thank you for being a great and memorable classmate!
Jeff Melvoin (Jeffrey D Melvoin)
Echoing the others, Walter was always a larger-than-life character. Hard to believe he's gone. Sympathies to his family. He will be warmly remembered by all of us who knew him.
Rick Natkin
Ah, Walter. Always brilliantly hilarious. I remember when he first arrived in H.P. and I asked him over for a play date, because I wanted to get to know him. That very first time, he floored me with one of the funniest (and most witty) things a 6th Grader (or whatever it was) could say.
We were having a snack, probably french fries, and I commented on the enormous about of ketchup he used. "Oh, that," he said, deadpan. "I have a low ketchup count." We were never hang out buddies, but were always friendly. I remember I was almost sorry that the two of us ran for Student Council President. I think there were at least three recounts, and I won by maybe a vote or two. Largely, I admit, because my younger brother Tom was a freshman and got a ton of his friends etc. to vote me. Otherwise, I know that the more intelligent upperclass students would have voted him in. Of course. They knew me - so knew better than to vote for a contrary pot-smoking hippie instead of a serious, intelligent and mature young man, which Wally was.
We both ended up going to Yale, and I ran into him a few time - I think we shared an organic chemistry class together. I know he must have been brilliant there too. But that's just a logical guess. Because I ended ujp dropping the class, and my pre-med illusions. But Wally went on to become a fine physician. I don't think I'd seen Walter since freshman year in New Haven - but I have always remembered him fondly, with respect for his intelligence - but especially his original and unique sense of humor.
Susan LeClair (Bohlin)
I had the distinct privilege of being in Homeroom with Walter. Meeting him was one of the biggest shocks of my high school life, arriving at HPHS from the small pond of Catholic school. I could never have imagined that high school freshmen could be fully-grown adults . . . but Walter! He continued to be a delightful force to be reckoned with, all four years. I am so very sorry to hear of his passing, and so very NOT surprised at the huge success he continued to be.
Richard Bernstein
Our senior year, Walter, Marianne Newman, and I were in Student Stunts as a "blackout trio," doing short, corny comedy bits. At the ultimate performance, the lighting tech decided it would be hilarious to have the spotlight go off in a different direction than the actors. I was peeved, but Walter was furious. Marianne and I had to talk him down from charging upstairs during the show.
Barbara Greener had her heart set on casting Walter to play Willy Loman in our senior production of "Death of a Salesman." I only got the role because Walter decided not to do it.
Whereas many of us at HPHS were groping for a way forward in life that somehow bridged the gap between our pre-professional upbringing and the counter-cultural, artistic zeitgeist, Walter seemed to know from day one where he was headed, and pursued his medical ambitions with singular focus. It obviously paid off big time, not only for him, but for all the lives he helped as a doctor and teacher.
Walter reached out to me a few years ago, and we kept in touch sporadically. We had photography in common (terrestrial for Walter, astronomical for me), and we shared images as we caught up on our careers and families. I'm sorry for his absence going forward. Condolences to all his friends and family.
John Preskill
3 stories about Walter.
At the National Honor Society induction ceremony, we posed for a group shot. As the photographer was setting up, Walter moaned loudly: "Oh God, I sure hope this helps get me into a college." Everyone laughed. We might all have been thinking it, but who else would say it out loud?
In Mr. Becker's US history class, we were all to perform skits portraying historical figures. Walter chose to depict Franklin Roosevelt suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage. It seemed very authentic.
During high school, Walter worked at Highland Park Hospital as an orderly. When my dad was briefly hospitalized, Walter made a point of visiting him, and assuring me that he was all right.
Elizabeth Lipski (Lipski)
Thank you all for these comments. They make Wally come alive. I wish I had known himr, I only have the vaguest memories. From reading these and his obituary, it sounds like he had a full and rewarding life of work and family.
David Hart
This is a story that I heard from Jim Schuster. Jim, Jeff Melvoin, and Walter were together in a class (possibly History). The three were getting a bit rowdy. Apparently this was a recurring issue.
The teacher reached her boiling point and determined to end the interruptions by saying the following:
"Jim - shut up."
"Jeff - shut up."
"Walter - leave the room!"
I didn't know Walter well, but I did like him and respect him.
My sympathies to his family and friends.
Robert Hennes
As mentioned, these stories are so vivid! Walter's spontaneous classroom humor, starting right off the bat at Edgewood, was often so on point, it defied traditional disciplinary measures. The mention of his drama work in high school, especially freshman year, is yet another less frequently remembered aspect of Mrs. Greener's eye for enormous talent. In the 1960's-1970's, many people were less likely to speak of their family history. From what I can read now, the rich and long history of Walter's southern Jewish family in Louisana could have been a tremendous education for us all. His spectacular and unique brilliance shall be missed.
Gary Kolb
Having not seen Walter since high school, in my memory he's forever young and larger than life. His death was news that he was neither, and it hit me unexpectedly hard. I hope that knowing how many of us hold his memory dear after all these years will be of some consolation to his loved ones. All the best.
Guy Nakamura
Upon first meeting Walter, I thought he was years older than all of us, with all that facial hair. He was always smiling and joking, always carrying his briefcase between classes. While I was not a close friend of Walter, whenever we spoke with each other he made you feel like one.
My thoughts and prayers to Susan and the family. Walter, rest in peace and thank you for being a great and memorable classmate!
Nak