Walter L. Kintz

Walter Kintz Obituary

Walter L. Kintz Died surrounded by his family on Monday, Nov. 27, 2006 following a short but courageous battle against cancer. He leaves behind and will be forever missed by his beloved wife Sue; his adored children Terry and Sheila, Kevin and Cynthia, David and Laura and his most cherished grandchildren Tyler, Morgan, Isabella and Miles. Walt was born in Harrisburg, PA on December 27, 1931 and moved with his parents to San Francisco when he was three. He served with the U.S. Army's Counter Intelligence Corps during the Korean War. He worked as a staff attorney and regional attorney for the National Labor Relations Board for many years, taking a one-year break to become the first general counsel of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board. After his return to the NLRB he retired in 1988 and opened an arbitration practice in the field of labor and employment law, retiring again in 1998. Walt most enjoyed spending time with his family and traveling with his wife. He especially loved attending his grandchildren's sporting events and artistice endeavors. At his request there will be no Funeral. His ashes will be scattered at sea in a private family service on his 75th birthday. A Celebration of his Life will be held in the new year."

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Dec. 1 to Dec. 2, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Walter Kintz

4 Entries

Ramond Curiel

December 29, 2006

Dear Mrs. Kintz and family:

It was with deep regret that I read of Walter’s death in the S.F. Chronicle. I am a friend from his school days at Daniel Webster Grammar School, Lowell H.S. and SF State University, Nee College.
I first met Walter in Mrs. Maher’s 7th grade class after my family’s sojourn of almost six years in Mexico. Walter befriended me, and so did his friend Ruben Maynard. Walter was Pennsylvania, Ruben, an Oklahoman, and I, a California in the same class. I mention this because my previous in North Beach consisted mainly of Californians of Italian descent. Mrs. Maher’s class was made up of Greek American, Russian American, French American, Polish American, Spanish American, and Mexican American people. In Mexico, my fellow students were primarily Mexican. Thus, Daniel Webster was an introduction to the changes occurring in the country, the city since my family’s departure in 1938, this was now 1944.
The nation was at war and all of us had brothers, relatives, and/or friends in the armed forces. My brothers, Jake and David were in the army and navy. The newspapers were full with war news; movie theatres with war propaganda stories, and at school we had metal drives, war stamp drives. Ernie Pyle was my favorite war correspondent, and Bill Maulding our favorite cartoonist.
Thus, it was not strange to learn that Walter and Ruben had made up a war game of tanks, Sherman and panzers. They had graduated from cowboys and Indians. The miniature wooden tank slack stars and swastikas were drawn on the turrets. Only Ruben and Walt knew the rules of this game they played at recess time or whenever Mrs. Maher had to go to the office. Both boys were well informed about the features of these armored vehicles. Walter’s favorite strategy was to take the high ground to cancel the firepower of the Panzers and mutual agreement, based on the fact, had to be reached before a tank was put out of commission. Great imagination.
Soon after I witnessed their game, I introduced Walter to a gadget I learned in Mexico, two bolts loosely screwed together to a nut with match heads in the middle. It made a firecracker bang when tossed in the air and the device hit the ground. I demonstrated it with a four-inch version. Walter got excited and soon after came up with his own plans to build a bigger version in the schools woodshop when that class came up. The wood shop teacher had never seen a more enthusiastic bunch of kids march in. For once, he did not have to yell at the students to get busy, not sit on the workbenches, and chat away the period, not everyone started eagerly on Walter’s project: A block of wood was carved into bolts, bullets were drained of gun power, and firecrackers and matchsticks were beheaded and added to the mixture. They were the detonators. The boys worked industriously on what I thought was the mother of all bombs and the shop teacher was blissfully unaware of what was transpiring in his shop, but he was happy. By the end of class, the project was completed.
Setting off the device would be at the bottom of Potrero Hill by the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. Walter cautioned everyone that for safety sake we had to be careful, that everyone had to seek shelter away from the bomb. I cannot remember whom, but the gadget was taken and heaved underhand, high into the air, and we all ran as fast as we could to the sides of the railroad tracks. We flattened ourselves to the ground, covered our ears, and awaited the roar and the ground to shake like in the newsreels and the war movies of the time. Nothing happened and after several trials, nada. More suggestions, more adjustments, and voila, the device was lifted to a telephone pole with a powder wick attached to it. It did not matter how much time it was taking the bomb was going to be detonated…the wick was lit by shaky hands and it sputtered.
After several attempts, it seemed to take hold and we ran to sides of the railroad ballast.
However, after so many misfiring the wick finally burned eagerly and when it reached the block of wood, smoke began to billow from the pole. We all jumped up and down to cheer of at least a partial success and began to congratulate one another when sudden silence occurred at the sounds of distant sirens. Without a word, we all scattered to the safety of our homes on Potrero Hill.
I marveled a Walter’s ability to take an idea and expand it and let it become something else, like the war tank game he and Ruben made up. Strategy and planning was Walt’s forte, the same for his plan to get elected high school paper editor, but that is another story.
Walter was a thoughtful and caring individual who enjoyed participating in all activity beneficial to his fellow human beings. He must be on his favorite high ground expanding on any ideas or projects on the boards slated for us to carry on.
He shall be missed!

Sincerely,

Ramon M. Curiel

David Sargent

December 26, 2006

I worked with and for Walter during my stay at the NLRB in San Francisco. I remember him also as a witty raconteur and a good friend and understanding boss. He smoothed my way through some difficult moments. He will be sorely missed.

Barbara and I greatfully recall his personal help to her.

Al Kirkland

December 2, 2006

I served with Walt at Fort Ord in 1954, then we were transfered to Fort Holabird for CIC training. After the CIC school, he was assigned to Pottstown, PA while others of us were sent to Washington DC. We visited Walt and wife a couple of times while they were there. I know that Al King, Dave Hopkins, Darwin Metcalf and Fred Mannino and I will miss him. He was a great and funny guy. He was the "Medic" while were were doing our second 8 weeks of Heavy Weapons Infantry training at Fort Ord. I don't hink he liked to carry the heavy weapons- the medical kit was more than enough.

William Kenney

December 2, 2006

I wanted to express my sympathy to all of the members of Walt's family.
I first met Walt when we worked together in the summer of 1957 at Bethlehem Steel Company in South San Francisco. We were doing roustabout work, sweeping the floors, stacking and moving steel. Not very glorious work. A lot of times there was not too much to do, which was alright with us. It gave us a chance to talk, and we did that.
At the time, Walt had just finished his first year at Hastings, and I was to start there in the fall. I have always appreciated the insights that he gave me about Hastings, and how to handle law school.It was very helpful to me.
I saw him frequently during school, and we would talk. He graduated a year ahead of me. I only saw him occasionally after that. He was handling labor law matters in San Francisco and I was in San Mateo in a civil practice, so our legal and geographical paths were quite different. However, he always remained in my thoughts.
I was indeed sad to learn of the death of this bright and intelligent man.
Sincerely, Bill Kenney

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