Deceased December 8, 2012
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50th Reunion Book Entry
In Memory
Walt Waechter passed away on Dec. 8, 2012, after a brief illness. Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from the William Penn Charter School before joining us at Amherst in the fall of 1948. Following graduation, he served on the USS Albany until 1955.
At Amherst, Walt was a history major and a member of Theta Delta Chi. Known to his close friends as the “senator,” he was a commanding, cheerful presence, never elected, ordained or even installed in any official way; he became the senator simply by example. With large and lively eyes holding our attention and broad smile bringing light and warmth, he moved readily and easily from one setting to another, always in his own thoughtful way. And those who knew the senator well appreciated that stringent conviction he brought to this way of looking at the world, with his humanistic perspective, far from the madding crowd.
Delightfully composed and confident, he brought these same qualities into the business world. A large part of his business career was spent overseas, largely in Asia and England, where he was president of Duracell International Batteries. In his travels, he always arranged his schedule to see the culture of the country.
In later years, he lived in Florida, where Bob Jones ’52 often met him and became a close friend. He was gregarious, outgoing, positive, very generous and always the optimist. Although a bit unorganized, he always seemed to get the job done.
He was a devoted family man, with three grown sons. Years after his wife, Lorraine, passed on, he met a delightful English lady, Susan Columbaria, at Cambridge, with whom he shared many trips.
Walt is survived by his three sons, four grandchildren and many other relatives. We will miss him.
Bob Jones ’52
Dodge Fernald ’52