When I arrived home last Thursday morning at 1 am exhausted from a 3business trip, I went on the internet to read my emails and just before retiring to bed I received an email from Gary telling me that Walt passed away.
I couldn't believe it at first although I knew of his bypasses and that he took medicins for it etc. still Walt was in my mind clear as the afternoon we met in the summer of 2000 when he came to our hotel when we were near his place.
I still see him arrive in his beautifull Porche get outr the car carrying a small weekend bag full off knives that would make everybody start drooling and in his other hand a bottle of perfectly chilled californian white wine.
We drank the wine and it was so good, we spoke for hours and both my wife and me enjoyed the conversation so much.
Walt was a gentleman with a great mind, sharp, clear, friendly.
When he unpacked his bag my mouth fell open, I saw goldcoin Sebenzas even double years, sebenzas with damascus blades, Rob Simonich talonite knives in many forms and fini9shes, Tom Mayo Talonite knives, Talonite dive knives and also Mad Dog knives to many to believe.
when it got early evening he invited us to get some food in a place he knew. My daughter drove with him in his Porche and between stoplights he showed that that monster car could accelerate from zero to 40-60 in a few seconds, later on returning to our hotel my son droove with him.
Both still vivedly remember him and were shocked to hear that Walt had died.
In the restaurant we continued our discussions and we had a lovely dinner and super conversation, we enjoyed it all.
Of the 4 weeks we travelled through the US that year, meeting Walt has been one of the most enjoyable moments of that whole trip.
Our sincerest condolances go out to his son Andrew and his daughters we wish you all the strength in the World for the coming time.
Walt, you'll be missed someday we'll meet again my friend,
Piet
(AKA Bagheera)
