Insidethisissue - aha Creative Ink

oss, friend, mentor, colleague
program, as our dean, is not
nearly as deep as the hole that
is felt in our hearts. Jeanne
Cashin said, “More than anything,
I would like to walk
down to Steve’s office, find him
sitting in his chair with his feet
up and say, ‘Got a minute?’ and
sit down and have a great chat,
laugh a bit, and solve the problems
of the world. There is still
so much to talk and laugh
about. I would like to ask him
how I am to get over losing him
as a dean and a friend. What
would he say? We would probably
talk and commiserate for
an hour and then come up with
no real solution. But in the
talking and the musing, we
would deepen our friendship
and feel good about our conversation.
And that’s what I will
miss the most—the everyday
knowing that he was there, in
my corner, and someone I
counted on in my life.”
As a boss, a dean, and a
leader, Steve was the best
model any of us have had. His
constant encouragement and
belief in our mission was always
his mode of operation. He
believed in the passionate work
of adult students and also in
our ability as a faculty and staff
to design and implement high
quality programs.
Steve often said to us, “If you
come to me with something
that you say will be successful
and you can do it, I believe
you. I’ll do whatever has to be
done to make it happen.” He
believed in all of us and he told
us that every chance he had.
Ellen Greenblum said,
“Steve said ‘thank you’ for
every little thing we did. I
loved that. I could work on a
project for 10 weeks or 10 minutes
and his appreciation was
genuine.” Most of us acknowledge
having some kind of personal
stash of e-mails or notes
from Steve expressing his gratitude
for work well done.
Regardless of how often he said
it, the meaning was heartfelt
and enormous.
Vicky Young recalls with
gratitude Steve’s support for
our work with the Navajo
Nation and other indigenous
nations, “Steve ensured that
the cultural and language needs
of individual Native American
students were met, while providing
an academic structure to
produce highly qualified bilingual
and bicultural teachers.”
Jeanine Canty said, “Steve
was the first person in my life
who taught me I have unlimited
potential. This summer we
were both studying qualitative
research methods and I realized
he truly embodies appreciative
inquiry, helping others
reach their best through support
and affirmation.”
“Every time I would stop in
to talk with Steve about some
item that needed handling or to
give him an update, he would
take the opportunity to share
with me some perspective on
leadership. I was always grateful
to slow down a bit and take
the time for learning,” said
Frank Cardamone.
Rick Medrick added, “His
door (or e-mail) was always open
for discourse and dialogue. He
responded as quickly as anyone I
have known and always with an
encouraging comment. Whenever
I would send him a lengthy
presentation on an issue or
topic, he would invariably say:
‘This looks interesting, let’s talk
further.’ And so it would go. He
was as open to new ideas as anyone
I have been honored to
work under.”
Noël Caniglia said, “Both at
work and at home with his family
Steve taught by example: his
calm, supportive, and respectful
approach to people and
issues allowed those in his life
to find what they needed in
themselves to succeed.”
Alison Holmes added,
“Steve would always say ‘Take
whatever time you need. Rest
up. Look after yourself.’ He
knew that his entire faculty
would do what needed to be
done, and so long as that was
accomplished, they could do it at
home, on the road, or over the
phone. He wanted us all to have
whatever was necessary to do
our jobs well.”
Steve made us the team we
are. He made our programs the
successful, thriving programs
they are. He believed so deeply
in the people around him—
family, friends, and colleagues.
We know Steve is smiling on all
the seeds he planted, seeing
them blossom so beautifully.
The marvelous thing about
Steve was that he always could
go to the heart of complex issues
and come up with an idea,
phrase, or question that would
enable all the people involved to
reach resolution quickly.
Melanie Lefever said, “He
was a man of few, but choice,
words. These key words were
often delivered in a mild,
almost halting style that belied
the firm exercise of judgment,
decisiveness, and empowerment
that was really going on!”
Alison Holmes added, “In
any academic institution there
are currents and cross currents,
and Steve would cut to the
chase to get to the bottom line.
He stayed very real, not allowing
his position of power to
take away from authenticity.”
We will miss Steve more than
any of us can imagine right now.
He was one in a million. As a
tribute to him we are committed
to modeling his leadership style
with high regard for his faculty,
staff, and friends for the rest of
our days. Steve, you’re the best.
Fall 2004Transitions
Memorials
Prescott College, in
conjunction with Steve’s
family, has established
the Steve Walters
Scholarship Fund, which
will benefit students in
the Adult Degree and
Graduate Programs. The
family requests that
donations be made to
this fund in lieu of flowers
or memorials. To
contribute to the fund,
checks should be made
payable to Prescott
College/Steve Walters
Scholarship and sent to
Prescott College
Development Office,
220 Grove Ave.,
Prescott, AZ, 86301.
For questions, contact
contact Ralph Phillips at
(928) 350-4501.
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