Photos used with permission from//Jill hofmockel
Jim Walden, who worked at West for 14 years, passed away Nov. 12. ABOVE LEFT: Jim Walden’s school photo from a few years ago, before he was diagnosed. ABOVE RIGHT: Jim Walden works with Jill Hofmockel’s son.
Remembering Jim Walden 1954-2013
By CONSUELO MENDOZA
mendozaconsuelo13@gmail.com
Skating on a pond or in the middle of City Park is where you would have found former West High librarian Jim Walden during this time of year. He had 58 pairs of skates hanging in his basement, and he was ready to offer a pair to anyone who didn’t have them. Walden had a selfless demeanor that always inspired others. On Nov. 12, the former West High librarian passed away from cancer. “Mr. Walden was one of the most genuinely kind people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet,” said West High graduate Josh Fortmann ’12. “Even before I knew him well, I was struck by how selflessly he made time in his day for any student with a question or a concern. As I got to know him more, I could see that selflessness reflected in a deep and constant desire to guide and help the students in his life.” His compassionate attitude was a good quality to have as a teacher. He helped impact the lives of many students at West. “I had the privilege of having Mr. Walden as my advisory teacher for three years. There was not one day of advisory that went by that he didn’t come in with a smile on his face,” said Alli Peterson ’14. “You could always expect him to end advisory with some words of wisdom to help us better ourselves as people.” Walking into Walden’s home, you would find books just about everywhere. His passion for literature led DESIGN BY//VELARCHANA SANTHANA
him to become a librarian. “[He] was a great man that would help you with whatever you needed,” said Chad Wilson ’08. “He always helped us with our research projects and taught us the best places to find information on our topics.” Along with being a librarian and advisory teacher, Walden also coached the West High boys track team. “[During] track, he always believed in me,” said Royce Peterson
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Athletics were a huge passion in his life. “When he found out that my kids were interested in playing baseball, he went as far as finding baseballs on eBay, and giving them a five pound bucket filled with baseballs so they could practice,” said art teacher Christian Aanestad. “He helped restore my youngest brother’s baseball glove so that my oldest son could use it. I think that kind of personifies the kind of person he was.”
Jim Walden was one of those KindS of people that would do just about Anything for anyone.”
-Christian Aanestad, West High art teacher
’13. “He always made me believe I could do better.” In addition to coaching, Walden would provide support and enthusiasm for the team. “He would always come cheer us throwers on whenever he could, and he always had a smile on his face,” Wilson said. Not only did he encourage students to be their best, but he helped some of them achieve otherwise unattainable goals. “He would buy expensive track shoes for some students who couldn’t afford it,” said librarian Jill Hofmockel.
Although Walden loved being around people, he also liked being independent. “Oftentimes on spring break he would ride his scooter all the way to Montana, going probably 45 mph that whole way there on old country roads or back roads,” said former West High library employee Kelly Black. “He took his time getting there and would take pictures of the cities and state signs when passing through. He showed me some of his photos from his travels in front of the signs. I was always inspired by his independence … he did many things by himself and en-
joyed his ‘me’ time.” He also served as a second family for many people. “A couple of years ago there were some kids who were having a really hard time at home and didn’t have any place to live, and he offered his home and let them stay at his house for quite a while,” Hofmockel said. Walden would even secretly put money in lunch accounts of students who he knew didn’t have very much, according to Hofmockel. Many would strive to have a character like his. “One of the things that really impressed me about Jim was it didn’t matter what topic you brought to him, what student came in to him, his first initial response was ‘Oh, that sounds interesting, let’s go find out,’” said Dave Rosenthal, a Spanish teacher and soccer coach at West. Even while battling cancer, he was known to put others ahead of himself. “He didn’t want us to have to worry about [his illness], he didn’t want us to have to deal with it, he wanted to know what was going on now,” Rosenthal said, “He handled what he had to handle with a lot of dignity.” Walden touched many lives, and his selflessness and compassion will inspire people for years to come. “Jim Walden was one of those kinds of people that would do just about anything for anyone,” Aanestad said. for more coverage go to wsspaper.com
DECEMBER 2013 PROFILES 7