Walt was a wonderful man. I'm very sorry he has passed, but so grateful for his guidance and the amazing life he lived.
I do remember reading that wrote for the Chicago Tribune, which I've read since I was a kid (although not while he was working there). I also see that he's from Evanston, where I used to take the train from the city every Saturday and where I just spent the past weekend. Even though I never met Walt, he was never far away from me and that always brought me comfort - proof that I really wasn't alone. He was always an incredibly comforting man.