Walter was our theatre buddy for many decades. A gentleman, a scholar, an adventurer, and the best company ever. There are so many wonderful things to remember. To say we miss him is a serious understatement.
Walter’s stories were fascinating – be they about his seagoing days, his students or, further back, his family & upbringing on a farm in NJ – the chores, the animals, fishing with his grandfather, trips to museums in NYC with his mother, etc. He enjoyed travelling the country with his friend Tanya, spending time with his brother Donald on Lake Michigan, hanging out on the beach in Hawaii where a woman came along every sunny afternoon, year after year, selling fresh pineapple – “the best pineapple in the world.” Life around the globe fascinated him.
As much as he loved the sea, Walter was the consummate urbanite. He opened his apartment, and shared it with old friends and visitors from everywhere. He pounded the pavement between Claremont and 105th St almost daily, stopping at Henry’s Bistro for a burger and a visit with Henry and the wait staff there – many of whom were actors. When he walked in, it was always “Hey Walter! How are you today?” “Great to see you, Walter.” His constitutional walks put him in touch with his neighborhood, with the sights and sounds and people of the city he loved.
Walter met people where they were, and I never met a person who didn’t appreciate that. Several of our regular theatre friends were not Lamonters or scientists, and Walter made friends with them easily, always interested in what they had to say or did for a living. (And he then had a new audience for some of his old stories!)
My college roommate, who taught math in Alaska & in the UK, had studied geology in adulthood and become a huge admirer of Walter. I took her to see him on Claremont a few years back. She came clutching her copy of Noah’s Flood in hopes of getting an autograph – mission accomplished! And a nice long chat with Walter as well. She called it heaven.
When Walter began to have mobility issues, the walks became more difficult, as did his taking the subway to meet us downtown. (Of course Walter was a subway person.) We began driving him so he could keep going to concerts, the theatre and dance events, etc. Eventually, that proved more than he could handle, so we took to bringing dinner to his apartment and hanging out there instead, hashing out politics, other news of the day, and always talking theatre.
Walter’s final abode was the Hebrew Home in Riverdale. We were among other friends who visited him there fairly regularly. He was amused & delighted by the fact that he could see both bridges from the garden there (GW & Tappan Zee), to encourage his thoughts about his favorite places: Lamont & NYC. And again, wheeling him down the corridors of the Hebrew Home, the staff there would greet him enthusiastically by name. He returned their greetings, long after he couldn’t remember who they were.
On one of our last visits, Walter told us that a painting he made in an art class was going to be in a residents’ show the following month. What had he painted? Why, the ship, of course -- I think it was the Vema. Walter rarely patted himself on the back, but he was really proud that his painting was going to be in that show.
Rest in peace, friend. You were a true original, and we loved you very much.
Mia Leo & Dick Kuczkowski
