director of admissions.
reasons.
“I was just a stupe at the time,” Mr. Walker said in the story. “But I was fortunate enough to have a
He had run in the primary against Democratic Congressman Fr. Robert Drinan in 1978 (garnering 35
great English teacher who brought me up to visit
percent of the vote ), a campaign that featured his
Williams, and I knew right then and there that was
daughter Julie’s 100-mile run from Gardner to the
where I wanted to go to school.”
Prudential Center in Boston. She wore a t-shirt on
Playing both ways as a tight end on offense and end on defense, Walker lost only two games (Tufts his
Julie, a former North cross-country captain, died
sophomore year and to Trinity his senior year) as a
as a result of being struck by a truck in 1987, inspir-
varsity player. In 1957, Williams was undefeated and
ing her father to write a novel in her memory.
won the Lambert Trophy as the best small college team in the East.
Mr. Walker’s writings also included a collection of poems honoring his colleagues entitled Teachers,
Mr. Walker graduated from Williams in 1959 with a Bachelor’s degree in English. He received his Master’s in Education from Harvard University in 1961.
“C O A C H
which the slogan ‘Walker is Running’ was featured.
published in 2001 and expanded after his cancer diag-
W A L K E R L IV E D W H AT H E PREACHED, AND
nosis three years ago. “He taught us how to live by embracing every
HE PROVED
aspect of life to its fullest,” said Holderness Head of School R. Phillip Peck in a tribute this week. “And he
H
E BEGAN HIS TEACHING AND
coaching career in
Newton in 1959, and in 1966 was hired at Wayland High, where his ’66 football team
won the Eastern Mass. Class D championship. After keeping a vow that if the school’s assistant
coaches did not receive a raise, he would leave, Mr.
taught us how to die with dignity, courage and peace.” Mr. Walker also leaves two other sons, Steve of Andover, MA, and Norman of Newington, NH; five daughters, Janet Aronson of Longmeadow, MA, Diane O’Halloran
of East Kingston, NH, Heather Wiltshire
of Bristol, NH, Jennifer Hemmen of Sacramento, CA,
T H AT Y O U CO ULD BE A M A N &A N D A L S O A POET AND A
Walker returned to Newton North in 1968 as an assis-
and Tara Hamer of Dover, NH; a sister, Judith Palmer
tant to Ronayne, another Mass. Football Coaches Hall
of Fair Oaks, CA; 18 grandchildren and two great-
of Famer.
grandchildren.
S C H O L A R .”
captained his dad’s 1983 football team at Newton
Marvin Pave adds: “As the Globe's former high
North, recalled the Thanksgiving Day win over
school sports editor, I was a co-founder of the
—A D A M
Mr. Walker’s son, James of Camden, ME,who
Brookline that ended the ’83 season – and Mr.
Massachusetts High School football Super Bowl. I
Walker’s 11 years as head coach.
covered the very first Super Bowl in 1972 at
“We carried him off on our shoulders and there was talk that it was his final game,” said Walker, who
Nickerson Field (at Boston University) and there was an irony because Newton North, which lost to
also played football at Williams and was an assistant
Brockton, had Norm as an assistant coach in the
coach at Holderness. “He was so passionate and
Division 1 game, and his former coach and mentor at
intense, in a good way, and a man of principle.”
Swampscott High, Stan Bondelevitch, was coach of
According to his family, Mr. Walker said he needed a fresh start at Holderness after Proposition 2
Q U IT T ’9 5
the winning Swampscott team in the Division 2 game played right afterwards.”
½ cuts affected school budgets and for other personal
This fall marked the first full season played on the Hinman-Walker Field. It was preceded by a ceremony in honor of Norm. Bagpiper Robert Caldwell (also our Director of Advancement & External Relations) plays while Phyllis Walker looks on.
Holderness School Today
15