As a freshman, Thomas Carl Walker shared a corner double on Third Burton with Ralph Mitchell, just above the entrance to Sevy. Hanging out with those guys was a trip. Unforgettable. They brought a Bay Area vibe, for sure, and played nothing but great tunes – “Red Clay,” “Sugar,” “Karma,” “All Day Music”!
After Carl left Northfield and returned to California, he made sure we stayed in touch. I remember visiting him at UC-Riverside before he went to work for HP, where he enjoyed great success. On a couple of occasions Carl and his wife, Stephanie, invited me to stay with them at their beautiful Craftsman-era home in Berkeley, and I was lucky enough to join them on several camping and fishing trips in the Sierra Nevada. Carl really loved packing up the gear and getting away on those trips with his extended family.
In the ’90s after his time at HP, Carl took a position with Huhtamaki, and moved with Stephanie and their children to Olathe, Kansas, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life.
Anyone who knew him at Carleton will remember Carl’s warm and outgoing nature. He had remarkable vitality, and it was a shock when cancer took him in 2009. He was a great friend to so many people, a very positive guy with a sharp mind and a generous spirit.
Contributed by John Long, ‘75
Comments
I only knew Carl from playing intramural basketball against him. He always seemed to be having a fun on the court, and he had a good outside shot.