Joseph Maize
Walt and I met during the beginning of an intense aerospace program eleven years ago. He was designing an instrument that my design had to interface to, and we had our first meeting in a large conference room, spreading out on the huge table all of the requirements we had to design against. After a few hours of intense study and organization, Walt took a ‘chance’, by broaching a sensitive subject about some controversial scientific ideas in electromagnetism. He mentioned a retired Lt. Colonel who was proposing some of these theories, and asked if I had ever heard of him. “Heard of him?” I said, “I know him personally and he spoke at a conference I sponsored!”.
That was the door opener to an intimate and close relationship that would last over a decade. Walt and I found a common interest in novel ideas, and I gained an inquisitive confidant who was not afraid to expand his mind into unknown territories of professional thought. Believe me this was very unique within the professional engineering world, and Walt was a wonderful companion to share avant-garde ideas with. I had the pleasure of spending many an hour with Walt talking about taboo subjects with great objectivism: radical ideas of tapping energy from the vacuum of space, existence of the human soul & spirit, unidentified flying objects, time travel, and many exciting things more. Walt was always dropping me articles, websites, and books to read that his hungry mind could not stop delving into. I could not keep up with him.
As our academic discussions unfolded, we also found a core common philosophy of a shared belief in things that mattered in life: family, truth in science & politics, treating folks in the work place with respect and kindness, and maintaining a modicum of peace in the work place and our personal lives. This intimacy between us created a close friendship and a brotherly love for one another, where I looked forward to seeing and speaking with Walt whenever possible.
This closeness bestowed a great honor to me 5 years ago when Walt asked me to become his Best Man at his wedding with Erika, and invited our autistic daughter (then 11) to be their Flower Girl. It was a wonderful and memorable experience for me and my family, and brought Walt and I even closer.
Walt was always thinking of me and the welfare of my family. When I ran into hard times after a layoff, Walt worked diligently to help me find a place to land. He was instrumental in getting me my interview at the governmental institution at which he was a contractor, at which I was hired on the spot and where I was able to work again closely Walt with great pleasure for another 5 years. He and Erika also became Uncle Walt and Aunt Erika to my daughter, with loving tender gifts that ALWAYS made her heart glow on special occasions.
Walt was well respected for his keen mind and engineering skills in the professional world. He was sought after for project after project, program after program for the insight and solutions he could quickly bring to the table to conquer extremely complex problems. He was explicitly an example of the humanity that can be brought into a work place that is often just the opposite with its sterility, uncompassionate demeanor, and disregard for the human condition. There isn’t a person I can think of that did not reflect back on their encounters upon Walt with warm feelings, respect for his abilities, and a gratitude for having worked with him.
I’m saddened that my close friend and his spouse went through the struggle they endured for the last several months. I’m saddened that my close friend is no longer around me to share thoughts and conversation. The only way I can repay him for his kindness toward me is to continue to pay it forward to others I may encounter. However I do believe with all my heart and mind that Walt is in a realm in which he is joyful and is free from suffering. He and his family are forever in our prayers.
Joe, Laura, and Alie Jo Maize
