This Thrifty New England Traveler blog is dedicated to Walter Moynihan, a talented and dedicated journalist and sports writer for 47 years at the Arlington Advocate in Arlington, Mass., who died on April 28, 2013. He was, quite simply, one of the nicest people I have ever known — a true gentleman with an innate kindness and an ability to get along with pretty much everyone.
I first met Walter at 16-years-old in 1978 when I began reporting for the Arlington Advocate. Almost instantly after being introduced to Walter at his desk in the newsroom at that big red house on Water St. where advocate owners Pete and Kay Jorgensen lived upstairs, he became a mentor and great friend. I quickly came to realize that Walter was much more than just a sports editor!
Walter was patient and encouraging as I developed my writing style, but, more importantly, the little things are what I cherished most. He would drive me in his old blue, rather bouncy American-made car to the Winchester Star newspaper where staff would lay out the Arlington Advocate newspaper with that awful, messy wax! The rides with Walter were so memorable, talking about the Red Sox, York Beach, Maine, anything that had to do with New England, and the best and worst restaurants. Sometimes at a red light, Walter would say “Watch this” as he would keep his car in the same place instead of moving it a few feet while waiting for the light to change, Almost always, the driver behind us would beep the car horn. Walter would chuckle and say that people just needed to be more patient!
Walter enjoyed walking, telling good clean jokes and talking about his family. His love for York Beach was unending, always conversing very early in the season about family summer vacationing in this fun, beautiful southern Maine seaside vacation town. He really sold me on York Beach and it’s interesting to note that is the place my wife and I fell in love and continue to visit with our family of four every summer.
Walter was indeed a hero in so many ways. I recently talked with his daughter, Mary, who told me about his 100 percent commitment to, and love for his family. Even when his health wasn’t good, Walter would make the hour-and-a-half trek to Mary’s home in Connecticut just to watch a few minutes of the grand kids playing basketball. Walter was never a wealthy man, but Mary says he would find ways to save money to make sure his family could vacation in York Beach. He loved his family, I remember that very early on in our relationship, listening to every word about family and hoping someday that I could be like him in that regard.
Knowing Walter for so many years and hearing stories from Mary, it is apparent that Walter, after all, was an extremely wealthy man. I don’t think his definition of wealth was based on money and material possessions, but rather life’s rich experiences with family and friends. He was there, virtually every step of the way for the generations of family, says Mary.
Also, Walter was so beloved in Arlington that a September road race was named after him! I think family, friends and the Arlington community’s sentiments of this great man can truly be realized through all the nice words said at the Acton Funeral Home’s condolences page. I strongly encourage you to read each and every word, as there are so many perspectives on this wonderful lifelong New England resident.
Many in Arlington knew Walter as a truly nice man and the sports guy at the Advocate, but I always thought he went far beyond that as an intellect, an innovator and a courageous man. He could pretty much converse about any subject matter with unaffected expertise. He was a huge proponent of women’s sports at a time when this important subject matter was never fully covered at many local papers. Walter’s efforts were deservedly noticed, as the National Press Association and other organizations recognized his quality work through the years.
Walter also served in World War II but like many Soldiers, Walter never really liked to talk about his experiences in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe and Africa. Maybe stressful war time experiences and an innate humbleness made him reluctant to discuss his military career.
Nearly 100 percent of the time, Walter conveyed a sunny personality and a best buddy presence that never impeded his ability to get work done or to motivate others. And no matter what the situation, Walter always enjoyed a good laugh. One night while working at my other job at the First National supermarket in Arlington, the produce manager asked me at the end of the day to go downstairs to check my hours for the week. After doing so, everything went totally dark. Apparently, the next-to-last person there closed the store. I fumbled my way around the darkness for about a half hour until bumping into the conveyor belt. I went up the conveyor belt to the main floor where the alarm tripped off. Police couldn’t get me out of the locked-up store, so the First National store owner showed up in his bathrobe — driving 45 minutes from Holliston. He was not a happy camper.
When I walked into the Arlington Advocate newsroom the next day, Walter had the widest smile and then starting laughing — not in a mean way, but probably regarding it as a classic comedy scene in the vein of Laurel and Hardy. Because one of my responsibilities was to cover the police log, I think Walter found it even funnier that I got to write about myself!
Like life in general, not all times were happy at the Advocate — mostly during my later years there — but Walter still made things incredibly special by believing in my potential as a journalist. My career ambitions derailed for a few years as I listened to too many professionals that said that their way of writing was the only way — and that I should follow suit, or else find another job or career. The new way of writing usually involved being so descriptive that the lead would often get buried. I understood the concept — and it’s definitely useful in a feature story — but I was still out of the old school paradigm to deliver news stories using the “inverted pyramid” style. That always meant starting the story with the most important facts and working your way down to the least pertinent information.
The love of community journalism had also shifted into more of a detached, bottom-line-numbers industry and we all had to make adjustments, quickly. Walter and editor Kay Jorgensen — who I also owe a huge amount of gratitude for helping grow my career — were more old-school journalists that believed that you were doing your job if the writing came across clearly to the reader.
Walter realized the challenges I was going through, but stuck with me all the way. But he could also be direct, too. One time in the parking lot in back of the Arlington Advocate, he said, “You know, Eric, you don’t have to use 75 cent words when there are perfectly good 25 cent words.” That message stuck with me to this day — that is, again, always communicate clearly to a broad audience.
Walter was truly one of the main motivators to my career in journalism and mass communications. When I earned acceptance to the school he attended — the Boston University School of Public Communications — he lit up the Arlington Advocate room with the biggest smile I have ever seen. Ultimately, I didn’t stay at B.U., transferring to the Suffolk University journalism program. Walter’s encouragement never waned despite me pulling a Benedict Arnold with schools.
Along with Kay Jorgensen and Arlington High School journalism teacher Len Tammaro, Walter served as my greatest outside-the-family career motivator in my earlier years. I have done well in the public and private sectors, even earning a Superior Civilian Service award and an Achievement Medal for Civilian Service in the government. I feel very awkward bringing this up, as Walter always taught me to stay humble and modest. I just bring it up as a tribute to him. I don’t think I would have achieved nearly as much in my field if I had never met Walter. Thank-you so much, Walter!
Unfortunately, I didn’t stay in touch with Walter and this will dog me for the rest of my life. We get busy for with family and career and while all of it is a true blessing, there’s very little time left at the end of the day. The next thing you know, many years have passed. All I can say is that if you know someone like Walter — no matter what age — make sure to stay in touch. The ones you love might not be around tomorrow, so make sure you let them know how you feel about them — even if it just for a brief moment. I wish I had stayed in contact with Walter, but as his daughter Mary told me, Walter would be proud that I am doing well and raising a family. Those were comforting words and I thank her for that, but we should never lose contact with the people that matter most.
Still, the wonderful memories can never be taken away. There are so many of them, having had the honor to know Walter. All I can see is that smiling face, and feel the 100 percent sincerity in his gentle soul.
I hope the following is enough, but I’ll pay tribute here to Walter by taking a walk now, getting to York Beach at every opportunity, and dedicating this site to him. God Bless you Walter and rest in peace.
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