When Madeleine called and asked me to speak at
Walter’s service, it reminded me of a story Walt told me about Madeleine’s father.
When Walt was in Canada for moosehunting, Madeleine’s father was guiding and
said, “ Now it is my turn, someday it will be your turn – as the wheel turns.” Almost five short years ago, Walt
gave a beautiful eulogy at my mother’s funeral. So, now it is my turn – as the
wheel turns…
A) Walt
grew up the oldest of four to strict and demanding parents. Partially because
of this strict upbringing –
Walt was tough – physically and mentally
tough.
1) He
played football for Valpo University as a tailback. That was in the day when
the helmet was leather and there was no facemask. Watching the video of his performance
against Wayne State is proof enough of his toughness.
2) He
built a log cabin with wood from trees he harvested himself off the farm he
lived on in Indiana. This was intentionally done with limited assistance of
power tools.
3) Walt
had 3 near travel accounts as a conch man
a. He
was in a car accident where his head went through the windshield nearly surviving
an leaving an scare on his face for life,
b. While
worktable on the chapel at Valparaiso university as a bride layer Seaton scaffold
that was improperly retrofitted, he was at the 50 ft level when it
way. Walt fell 20 to scaffold barrier. Badly showered bunt otherwise under when lay rebar
has stress, he punched on the who made the barrier
c. As
a friskers hardier, Walt was waddle writ a unclear work at the steel meal. the
power was un virtually as vestry spellers Walt miracle what shores have Brain a
Rapid Jolt of fortunately Walt survived
B)
Walt was well-educated and intelligent.
A PhD with a measured IQ of 138, a member of Mensa, with an excellent command
of the English language. A thinker and a doer, he used his talents to write a
book – The International Handbook on Association Management.
C)
Walt loved to teach and consult. After
he retired from APPA in 1994, at a time in life when many people begin to slow
down, Walt began an adventurous phase of his life – teaching, mentoring, and
sharing experiences about Association Management. He traveled the world
visiting 25 countries – such places as Russia, Egypt, West Bank & Gaza
Strip, Poland, Afghanistan (with the sometimes reluctant but full support of
Madeleine).
D)
Walt loved politics. A passionate
die-hard conservative. To Walt, liberals were called damn liberals. He sent me
this tea party bumper sticker campaigned for Barry Goldwater, adored Bill
O’Reilly. He was offered an opportunity to run for Illinois State Senator, but
declined for personal reasons. He took a turn as town commissioner of Beaufort.
My
relationship with Uncle Walt got livelier in recent years when I confessed to
him I am a card carrying member of the ACLU and voted for Obama. He still loved
me – he did not insist I change my views, but he made sure I defended them.
Uncle Walt was a special uncle. Besides intense political
discussions, we shared a love of history – traveling for a two-day trip to
Gettysburg. He knew my brother and I were interested in science and arranged a
private tour of the linear particle accelerator at Indiana University. He wrote
a very supportive and encouraging letter to my niece, Shelby, when she was
accepted at Valparaiso University. Weekend trips to the farm. These memories
are to be forever treasured.
Walt possessed the talent for “fitting in” and making friends
wherever he went, whatever he did. Living on a farm in Indiana, teaching in
Egypt, giving guided old cemetery talks tours, neighborhood gatherings, or attending
an Wheatley’s adult bible study class, Walt just “fit in”. But sometimes Walt
had to make adjustments. While attending a function at a southern university
official’s house, he was offered a piece of pecan pie that the lady of the home
baked with her own hands. After Walt politely declined, a guest interjected and
said, “Mr. Schaw, I don’t think you understand – she said she made it with her
own hands.” Walt suddenly regained his appetite and accepted the offer.
When examining Walt’s life, there is an underlying current in
everything he did –that is to make things better not just for himself, but for
others. He lived a Christian life not by preaching, but by example .Whether it
was managing associations, a soldier in uniform defending against communism,
political action, a court appointed advocate for disadvantaged families, or
teaching in Afghanistan eating food most family pets would reject - Walt was
about people.
Two quotes from his
book:
“Associations offer
environments that empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things.”
Chinese
proverb:
“If
you want prosperity for one year, grow grain.
If you want prosperity for ten years, grow
trees.
If you want prosperity for 100 years, grow
people.
As
for people, none of these accomplishments would have been possible without the
love, understand commitment, and patience of Madeline of all of Walt’s
accomplishments, if asked, he would say marrying Madeleine was the best thing
he ever did.
Good-bye old friend.
