R.I.P. Walter Kowalski
October 13, 1926 - August 30, 2008
October 13, 1926 - August 30, 2008
Walter passed away in Boston at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, the 30th of August, 2008.
As always, comments and memories are welcomed below.
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9 comments:
Hi Mark, my name is Zachary and your uncle Walter is the Godfather to me and my sister. What a great man Walter is. He never forgot our birthdays, or any holidays. We would always call him up on his birthday and sing happy birthday to him. We have the fondest memories of him spending Christmas with us and the many trips we took to Massachusetts to visit him, and the trips he made to New York to visit us.. He was very close with my Dad who he also trained as a wrestler but his relationship with my Father was much more personal and went way beyond wrestling. When we went anywhere with him he would always introduce my Dad as his son. The poems he wrote for our family are just beautiful.
I remember when my sister was younger Walter would hold her hand as he walked across the floor in the restaurant. Then he would drag his shoes so they squeaked out loud and she would laugh and when she laughed he would do it all the more. The people in the restaurant would just look up and see this big man and little girl as Walter was squeaking his shoes. He let me bring him to my school so that everyone could meet him. That made me so very happy, not to mention much more popular with the teachers. What Great fun he was to be around. What a Great Godfather he is. We love him very much and will miss him dearly.
We offer our deepest condolences and love to you and your family.
God Bless…..
Zachary S.
Thanks Zachary.
I think it's appropriate that I, in return, offer my condolences to you and your sister.
Though we never met, I can see that you obviously loved him well.
Take care.
I always enjotyed your uncles matches with the great bruno sammartino. They showed me the physicality and genuine athleticism that wrestling truly is. GOD BLESS WALTER KILLER KOWALSKI, incidentally i had the pleasure of talking to your uncle
years ago and found him to be very pleasant and courteous, he told me great backstage stories and gave me insight into the business.
mike rubin
mike rubin
I enjoyed your uncles bouts w ith bruno sammartino, they illustrated how real a nd physical wrestling can be. GOD BLESS WALTER KILLER KOWALSKI. R.I.P.
MIKE.
Thank You Mark......
Yes, we love our Godfather Walter very much.
God Bless,
Zachary and Marisa S.
No-one wins when someone dies.
I remember Killer Kowalski in the mid 1970s when I was a kid in Montreal. My dad would be yelling for the ref to intervene when Killer did his thing but at that point he had already been deemed a 'heel'.
The claw. Man I remember that move. In 2008 'the claw' is taking your hand and grabbing the gut of your kid (in my case) or your opponent (in the case of Killer) and yelling "AWWWWWWWWWWW"
My 4-year old son, Jack loves that move.
There are once-in-a-lifetime-people that sometimes you get to meet. Or maybe you see them on TV and decide they're the people you want for the road.
I grew up with Killer Kowalski and he's along for the road. He was framed as a heel but he'll always be my best friend Mark's uncle first.
Mark,
I knew Walter indirectly through Kevin Smyth who has known Walter for over 30 years. I've had the privilege of reading some of Walter's poems that he wrote for Kevin and also for Kevin's two children (Zack & Marisa)who were Walter's godchildren. It was clear to me that Walter was much more than a great wrestler - he was also a deeply spiritual man with a heart of gold.
When I was suffering from a severe bout of adult mono and the doctors could do nothing except tell me to rest - I began praying about it and I felt led to call Kevin and Kevin spoke to Walter. Very shortly thereafter, Walter gave Kevin a specific vitamin regimen for me to follow and I immediately embraced it. I very quickly regained stamina and energy and the doctor was stunned by my progress. I believe that God used Walter to help answer that prayer. Walter followed-up several times with Kevin to see how I was doing -I was deeply touched by his actions and concerns. He was truly a special man. My deepest condolences on your loss.
Roger Ringuette
Mark,
Sorry for your loss. I was one of Walter's first students and remember you coming to visit him. He brought you to the YMCA in Salem and got to come to the training sessions with him. Walter was the most important influence on me other than my parents. We all should remember him as the caring loving man he was and be a little more like him.
Dan Pettiglio
He was the best of the best! Godspeed!
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