Martin F. Urbanski
First, my sincere condolences go to Pat and all members of her family for your loss. Wally was actually the first friend I made when my family moved from one side of Madison Heights across town to our house on Alger. As far as memories: We played plenty of basketball in my backyard and more on the JV basketball team at Lamphere H.S. Often on winter nights, I hopped over our back fence and headed a few houses down the block for what would always be very aggressive ping-pong matches in the basement of his house. Other neighborhood friends would be there and his dad - who we all liked, also played pretty well and would drop in occasionally. At least once his dad even provided some entertainment with an impromptu banjo performance. I also recall one cold Thanksgiving day where we watched the football game on TV and then went out to play touch on the street. Another Wally memory that remains clear to this day: Cruising Woodward Ave. in a GTO (goat) Wally had just bought. I remember just sitting there, riding shotgun in a cool car on a perfect Michigan summer night, listening to Cream as Wally went through the gears and moved us down the highway. Wally was high energy, fun and maybe “a little” wild at certain periods in his life – the craziest ones I missed by being gone in the military. I recall being home on military leave once and giving him a ride to the courthouse to settle some “minor” trouble he got into. No need for details on that here. In any case, the last I saw Wally was at his place too many years ago. He was pretty loud, yelling at the TV, as he coached the Lions from his living room to another loss that day. So now it's 2024 and I regret not having tried harder to make it back more often to reconnect, maybe watch a game, or go fishing with him. Again, very sorry for your loss. Marty, Melbourne Florida