Walter and I were born a month apart and grew up in the same church but not quite in the same neighbourhood so we didn’t go to school together. Our parents were both post WWII immigrants from Eastern Europe and our Moms were good friends. As families when we were younger we would visit periodically for the classic Sunday afternoon Faspa, and as a combined group of at least 6 boys would get into the usual shenanigans. Later Walter and I attended youth group and hung out at other times as well. Joan and I remember the fun and dancing at Walter and Linda’s wedding, and also the early family times as their children and ours attended Sunday School. After a while Walter and Linda moved to the other side of the water and we didn’t connect as much. But there is something about growing up with a similar background and having an early history with someone, that provides a connection that just seems to continue on as normal whenever you do meet. My two strongest impressions of Walter remain - that he was honest to the nth degree and that he was straightforward and said what he thought. A verse that always reminds of Walter is where Jesus says of Nathanael – ‘there is a man with no guile in him’. Joan and I wish all the best to Linda and the family as they continue on and cherish Walter’s memory and all he meant to them.

I had the good fortune of being a first-hand witness of Walter's excellent work ethic, many years ago.
Upon hearing that he showed such dignity and grace in his personal battle against cancer, I have become convinced that if humanity can share in his spirit and work ethic, we can find cures and more effective and humane methods of treating cancer, much sooner. 
We will miss Walter. We should however remember that he helped show all of us the way forward, by example. 

My condolences to his family. 

My dad was, and is, a significant part of my life. I was lucky to have him as a teacher and role model growing up. I will forever treasure our time playing volleyball and working on building projects together. He always had my back and was everlastingly supportive. In the end his greatest worry was leaving us behind. Following is a letter I wrote for him in his final days. I feel comfort in him knowing my words before he passed, as much went unsaid in our relationship.

Dad,

I wanted to write something down to try and organize the thoughts in my head.  First off, I want you to know I do not think just anyone could handle the last couple years the way you have. You have carried on with positivity and strength despite the challenges you have faced. In reference to the book you gave me I believe this to be a strong demonstration on top of countless others to live as an example to others. You apologize for leaving, but you should take comfort in knowing you have prepared us by your example. Provided memories that prevent you from truly leaving. You are a great dad to me and my sisters. You cannot stop being that. the only thing you are leaving is legacy. 

I hope you find this reassuring for your thoughts. I feel you know it already. For myself I find it alleviating writing it down.

Love Matthew      

I know a part of my dad lives on in myself and can only hope to live up to the great example he set for me.

Dear Dad,

          Remember those times when you would shoot me out of the water to make me feel like I was flying on vacation, I thought you were superman and I began to realize when I got older you really are superman. You’ve taught me so much in life and have shaped the women I am today. Where do I begin? Without you, my math skills would be embarrassingly bad, all those nights we spent at the kitchen table together till I understood what was going on (even if I was in tears) was worth it. Your athletic career inspired and will continue to inspire me to excel in every sport possible. Having you on the sidelines cheering me on was one of my biggest motivations. Being coached by you in volleyball was a true bonding experience and left me with memories I will always hold with me.
          You were always humble with your accomplishments, you told me you didn’t like bragging about yourself, but I told you, you have the right to with everything you have mastered. One of the many things I loved about our relationship was how our minds are alike and linked in some kind of way, we know what each other are thinking and truly understand each other, to me that is a special bond that not a lot of other people can say they have with a parent. Teaching me how to make pickled cucumbers is also a memory I will always have with me; I have our last jar with me, and I will savoir every pickle. OH! Dad also… remember all those times you would carry me to bed when I fell asleep on the couch… secrets out… most of the time I was faking it so I wouldn’t have to walk up myself.
           You always say I have you wrapped around my pinky, I’d always laugh when you’d say that, you spoiled me like no other and gave me unconditional love. You always had funny sayings and one that I loved was when you would drink my milk and give a little evil laugh and say, “stolen milk tastes better”. What I would do to hear your voice and see that bright smile of yours, you know how much you mean to me Dad. You fought cancer courageously and never complained, the strength you carried with you was truly amazing. God is so incredibly lucky to have you as an angel now, but he took you too soon. I know you will always be with me in life but now just in a different way, watching over me. Rest easy Daddio I love you to the moon and back.

Love Mickymoo

The castle in this video is called Dunnottar Castle in the cute fishing village of Stonehaven. It was a stunner day as you can see, and there happened to be a piper on the day we visited! What a fantastic Scottish experience for my parents. I cannot remember where my dad was when I was filming this, but I like to think he was standing beside me. My dad especially liked this castle. I will always be reminded of him when I see this castle and how much he enjoyed exploring its history. 

"Have great memories of my time at UBC with Walter and our pretty awesome teammates.
  

Henry shared the following memory with us:

At Gladstone Secondary School Walter coached Henry's basketball team. Even though it was basketball, Walter was keen on turning them into volleyball players. At one practice Walter was demonstrating volleyball techniques to the team. He took a volleyball and slam dunked it, the boys could swear he jumped 11ft! 

"Thought of something interesting about Walter.  Even though he never played a musical instrument or sang in the church choir, Walter influenced me profoundly by introducing me to technically complicated and awesome music to enjoy!  For example,  he invited me to hear Queen and The Moody Blues and Supertramp (twice!!) live and in concert.  He also had a big interest in Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon and in Alan Parsons who created the sound for Pink Floyd and continued to produce Techno Pop albums via the Alan Parsons Project albums.  He may have had a tin ear,  but his taste in music from the 70s was excellent"

"Attached is a photo from younger times when our futures stood before us – we were having fun even then. 

Missed seeing you at the Civil ’78 reunion last summer – strange to see us all with grey hair and the only ones still working being the structurals – the rest gone on to golf courses. 

Speaking of courses was just getting preliminary emails about the SEABC concrete seismic course and noted your name on the schedule of lectures for some of the sessions – my stimulus for thinking of you and writing to you today. 

Peace be with you Walter it has been good to have you as a classmate and as a member of this select group of structural engineers who gets enjoyment from designing things and seeing them get built.  Those buildings and our children are our legacy."

Words from Walter: 

"The 76 team got together for this Hall of Fame induction and the endowment fund, both were actually spearheaded over the last 10 years by two of the guys that came over on Wednesday to present me with the Hall of Fame induction plaque with my name on it. Those two guys are in the photo attached with my plaque being presented. Ian on the far left and Tom second from far right.  Tom played national team setter for about 10 years after playing with us.  The fellow on the far right (Dwane) disappeared  after the 76 season and we haven't been able to track him down until now (over 40 years later and again due to the efforts of Ian and Tom). The fellow taking the picture is John, a teammate that joined in 77 when we came second in Canada.  John is the tall fellow in the attached picture showing me with the Thunderbirds Volleyball t-shirt.  John was and is one of my two or three best friends and we went through structural engineering at UBC together as well as UBC volleyball (club too), and even shared an apartment for a while after UBC and he's the one who got me involved with playing Masters Volleyball in 2005 (just turning 50 years old).  He was instrumental in my career and salary advancement as well - another story. The fellow on my right  side is Olli a Finnish guy who was 28 when the rest of us were 20-22.  He went back to Finland to make his fortune (literally)
as a chemical engineer and came back to Vancouver to retire."

The dynamic UBC Men's Varsity Volleyball Team Induction into Hall of Fame. 

A video from Santa Ono the President of UBC recognizing the UBC men's volleyball team.