Tributes

Walter was born and raised in Chicago, the younger son of Polish immigrants Walter and Jadwiga. He died at home in Albany of natural causes at age 101. He is survived by his sons David (Sandy) and Douglas, and daughter-in-law Mary, grandchildren Dan (Helen), Steve, Taylor, and Avalon (Tim), great-granddaughters Katherine (Dan & Helen) and Vera (Avalon & Tim), his brother-in-law John Leinhard and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce, son Donald, older brother Eugene and niece Deborah. Walter was a graduate of the Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was in the Navy V-12 program in college and was in active service in the US Navy at the end of World War II. His passion for organization and planning led him to a career as a professional mechanical engineer first in design and construction and later in teaching other engineers. In 1948, he married Joyce whom he met at Northwestern University. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in April 2018. Walter began his career as an engineer for Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati OH, then moved to New York and later Ohio working for the world’s largest scrap steel dealer managing large scrap steel plant construction. When his employer got out of the steel business, he had several jobs for large construction companies in Long Beach CA and St Louis MO. He ended his career working for Weyerhaeuser in Washington where he managed paper mill construction and teaching engineering processes to Weyerhaeuser engineers around the world. Walter was athletic his whole life, playing sports in high school, running half-marathons in his 50s and going to athletic clubs at work and after retirement. He greatly enjoyed his friends at Timberhill Athletic Club for the 20 years he belonged there. With his roots as a high school baseball player in the 1930s, he enjoyed the Corvallis Knights games because they played “real baseball” with wood bats. Walter’s love of music kept him involved in a lifetime of orchestra and chamber music (string quartet) activities from middle school until his eyesight made it too difficult to play in his late 90s. He was an avid supporter of music associations and music schools for children. After retiring, Walter was extremely active in playing string quartets, at one time driving from Corvallis to Portland and Salem every week while playing in four quartets at once. No drive was too far if there were quartets or golf at the end of the trip! In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice in Walter’s memory. His favorite charities supported music, education, and veterans. A celebration of life will be held in March, details are below. Please share your thoughts and memories for the family at www.McHenryFuneralHome.com.

Tributes

Walter Richard Derlacki

November 13, 1923 - November 29, 2024