Greg Walters
It is with heavy heart that I share the death of Greg Walters this morning, January 17. I heard from Dave Seat that he had died. Greg and I were in communication just a few days ago when I got his very nicely printed Christmas card, mailed on January 6. His note said “I keep telling the doctors, ‘You can’t let me die, I’m just too busy.’ “
Greg related in his card “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away” And his message stated “Most everyone knows these words to Last Christmas by Wham! But for me, Last Christmas means something quite different. Was this my last Christmas? As I enter round 2 of my battle with tongue cancer, I realize that I may never see another Christmas. I am grateful for you and the many people who have been a part of Christmas and a part of my life.”
We don’t know the details yet, but Greg had a very prolific life centered around letterpress. From hosting the American Type Casting Fellowship meeting in 2010, to his saving and casting with several Barth casters from ATF, his 5 or 6 Elrod casters that he regularly used, to 2 large warehouses behind his house in Piqua, Ohio, plus presses, plus so much else. He was generous and very sharing. I will miss him.
Sad news. Every once in a while I pull up videos on his youtube channel of him making 120pt foundry type, and just marvel at the skill (and daring) required. He truly was a great resource to the community.
Rest in peace Greg.
It’s a heavy loss. I too just received Greg’s holiday card (beautifully printed with fantastic type, of course) and in it he expressed that he intended to survive to host the next ATF conference at his place in 2022. I wrote him just a few days before and hope he got it.
Greg was a huge supporter of the scene- always generous and asking little in return. It was hard to do anything for him without receiving heavy packages of thanks in the mail. I will miss his friendship, knowledge, attitude and his excellent fashion.
Dan
Yes, he had intended to survive to host the ATF Conference; he’d asked me to help him with it.
He was very generous—with his knowledge, encouragement, type, and time. I am relatively new to the world of letterpress and hot metal type; he was always very patient with my countless questions.
And we shared a love of steam locomotives.
I, too, will miss him.
The loss of Greg is another tragedy of a new year that’s starting off in a bad way.
Greg was a generous man and a knowledgeable letterpress printer who will be sorely missed.
Michael Vickey
Nickel Plate Press
Greg’s obituary is here:
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/23725121/gregory-j-walters/piq...