I was so very saddened by the death of Walter Dean Myers. I admired him and his writing so much. There was something Buddha-like about the man. He was big, big in person, big in voice and in his writing, so full of articulated compassion. He could delineate the souls, experience, and aspirations of African-American kids with searing honesty, but always, always infused with understanding, empathy, and most of all with hope.
A story about him: I was visiting a prison in Virginia, talking to a group of young men, prisoners. Dressed in prison garb. I sat in a chair, and they—twenty or so—sat in a semicircle at a “safe” distance. Guards around. The young men quiet, but stiff. Were they readers? Just glad to break routine? I didn’t know.
The talk began. At best, vague interest. Distance. Then someone called out, “You know anyone famous?” Obviously, I wasn’t famous. I said, “Walter Dean Myers is a friend of mine.” There was a stir. They sat up.
“You his friend?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, wow!”
And the whole mood shifted.
“Tell us about him … “
And suddenly I was okay, because Walter was my friend. They were readers. His readers.
We worked together in our readers’ theatre group, ART. The best moments were when we read from Sharon Creech’s Love That Dog, in which Walter is an important part. When he took his part, there was always the sweetest of smiles on his face. It was by far the best moment in our show. Here’s a bit of him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FCfm8yPhlE
8 thoughts on “Remembering Walter”
You said this so beautifully. How we will miss him. xx
We certainly will! Thank you, Sharon, for Love That Dog! I love reading it to my students and love the connection to Walter Dean Myers. It’s a sad day for YA readers and teachers everywhere.
Walter and I worked for a now defunct publishing house, Bobbs-Merrill, in the late ’70s/early ’80s? He was an editor there. He was a gentle man with a great smile and positive energy living in a walk-up on the Lower East Side. What a positive force he became. RIP, Walter Dean Myers.
Dan
I play that reader’s theater each year when we complete “Love That Dog.” I always point out the way Sharon Creech stops to look at Walter Dean Myers…as he is reading from the book and when she reads, “Is Walter Dean Myers a live person?” He did have the best, best, best voice…I will be sad to share the news of his death this coming school year.
Thank you, Avi, for this remembrance. It appears there are broken hearts everywhere as well as deep gratitude for Walter Dean Myers’ literary legacy. Your words ease the pain of this unexpected, unwanted news …
Thank you so much, Avi, for your memory of Walter Dean Myers. I will share the YouTube video with my students when we begin our author study project this year. You and he are among my students’ favorite authors (mine too).
I am thankful for the legacy of Walter Dean Meyer’s words which will continue to inspire my students in his memory. He will be missed.
I’m so sorry he’s gone, Avi. His books are amazing and have touched so many readers. He will be missed.