My dear brothers, members of the Marianist Family, friends of Bro. Walter and Christine and members of the Bro. Walter’s Family:

I write this letter with sadness and a heavy heart that I am unable to be with all of you these days, as we bid farewell to Bro. Walter. While I did everything I could to change my return flights home to be present today, I realized that if I stopped my ministry with lay Marianist formation, and spent one extra dime on changing my plane reservations, Walter would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Thank God, I was able to talk to Walter a few times before he died. There was no doubt in my mind that Walter had accepted, and was ready to see the face of God. He was a courageous and holy man during these last few months. Whenever we did talk, most of the time, Walt was giving me words of comfort or advice.

I first met Walter when I was an aspirant in the Society of Mary in 1983. I was visiting the Chaminade Community in Hollywood, Florida for the Tridiuum and Easter break. While I was expecting to experience some sun and fun, I was also there to take some time in order to make a decision about moving onto the next step in my discernment process – namely, becoming a novice. The community was very hospitable, and I can’t remember Walter standing out with much flare. However, when it came time for the Easter vigil to begin on Saturday evening at 8:00 PM, there was Walter, vested in a white alb and ready to lead over 100 people in the first part of this Easter service. Suddenly, just as I expected, we would start the Liturgy of Eucharist. Walter invited anyone who desired to stay, to sit in vigil all night, and we would gather again at a specific time the next day. (You see, at that time, the community celebrated a real vigil and we prayed the scriptures and spent hours reflecting on the great story of God’s salvation for all of us.) I promptly retired to bed, and when I arrived back at the chapel the next morning, the presider, Fr. Chris Conlon, started exactly where Bro. Walter had stopped the night before. Needless to say, being a neophyte in this religious life stuff, I asked Walter about what I had just experienced. He explained to me the role of a brother, especially in leading prayer, but the unique difference of ordained ministry. It was an epiphany experience for me, and I thought, I could do that. Recently, on December 30, 2005, when Walt and I spoke, after his doctor’s appointment, I shared with him that story and told him he probably saved my vocation in a small way.

In the most recent years, Walter’s life and my life intersected in ways that only God would have known. When I became the director of CMSC in Philadelphia, Walter was the associate director, and we both worked very hard in promoting our Marianist Spirit in family ministry, lay vocations to the Marianist Family and the formation of existing and new Marianist Lay Communities. When the invitation came for me to move to St. Louis and continue this ministry in the new province, Walter was instrumental in helping me say yes. He told me, only like Bro. Walter could, that God, Jesus and Mary, wanted me to accept this invitation because the Marianist Family needed me. It was not until a few months after I moved that Walter revealed to me that he didn’t want to assume the role of acting director for CMSC, and the only reason he helped in my discernment was that he did not want to get in the way of God’s plan for me. (Being an ex-guidance counselor, he said he had done that enough in his life!)

One last tid-bit about Bro. Walter. Walt always prided himself on not being German, but being ½ German and ½ Italian. He knew in many ways, however, the German side of his personality would win out. While he and I continued to work side by side for almost 10 years, he would tell me that I was good for him, being 100% Italian. He so much enjoyed the sparring, (which he could do with anyone) the fun, (which we had lots of), the food (what is a Marianist gathering without food) and passionate personalities. All these traits he perceived Italian people possessed and wanted more of them. Of course, I would just tell him, especially at those very special moments where you wanted to choke him, “Oh Walter, please get in touch with your Italian side, you are driving me nuts!” He would laugh at me and tell me how good I was for him.

I will miss him greatly, as a brother, as a member of the Marianist Family, as a colleague in ministry and as a dear friend, confidant and mentor. Walter was in love with being a Marianist brother. He was more in love with being a member of the Marianist Family. I have no doubt that Walter is standing in the middle of our Holy Founders, probing them about the mysteries of our Marianist story.

Good-bye dear friend! We will meet again.