Stephen Walach

Stephen Walach, a native of Pawtucket, RI, passed away on April 1, 2024, after a  courageous struggle against an ultra rare cancer, EHE.

A wise teacher once said that only a lit candle can light other candles. Steve Walach was lit. His story is about connections and bridges built in every chapter of his life. From the formative years in elementary school to the strength and camaraderie he discovered at Saint Raphael Academy, to his extraordinary teaching career, and then his return to his family home and neighborhood, Steve Walach composed a life of fulfillment and purpose. For Steve, life offered moments, some of obvious import with students and family, but as significant, the everyday encounters with strangers and friends, seemingly of little consequence, that he turned real and human. To those who arrived at his bedside from across the country, those who called and wrote, this was Steve's gift - to listen, to give his attention and care.

Steve is survived by his loving wife, Helen (Jakubowicz)Walach, his sisters, Patricia Walach Keough and her husband David Keough; Kathleen Walach and her husband John Hammond; Ellen Pereira and her husband Michael Pereira; his nephews  Brendan Keough and his wife Katie and children Ronan and Colin; Owen Keough, Leilani Alvarez and their children Olin and Dalia, Joseph Pereira, Adam Pereira, and Michael Hammond; his brother in law Edward Jakubowicz and his sister in law Monica Jakubowicz.

Steve's teaching career spanned 40 years beginning in Miami at Westview, Corporate Academy and Ransom Everglades School. In 2002, he started at Friends Academy in North Dartmouth, MA. While his subject was English,he taught his students the importance of writing their own story. He was a classroom innovator, a master teacher who instilled the power of language and the value of each perspective. As he listened to them, he taught them to listen to themselves and each other.

Steve loved to get his hands into the earth and reap the bounty it gave back. Service learning projects and health classes were incorporated into the organic gardens that Steve created at the schools where he taught. With countless students, their families and community volunteers, he oversaw the production of literally tons of organic produce, delivered to soup kitchens and food pantries.

In 2002, Steve and his wife returned to 519 Walcott St, the home and neighborhood he grew up in. Steve  walked the the old neighborhood and made new connections, feeling the familiar sense of place that Pawtucket and New England offered. The backyard  became a community garden, providing organic vegetables for neighbors, friends and those in need. When the children next door were tall enough to peak over the fence, they saw "Mr. Steve" hard at work in the garden. Soon they were helping to plant potatoes and in the fall experienced the wonder of harvesting them.

In 2001 Matt, Steve"s Dad was dying and Steve made 3 promises: He would marry Helen, take care of Jimmy, his brother with Downs Syndrome and look after Mom. Steve fulfilled those promises: he spent Saturdays with Jimmy and oversaw his care and he cared for his Mom at home until she died on Feb 5, one week short of her 104 birthday.

In 1973, Steve graduated Cum Laude from Brown University, with a concentration Human Studies. His tenure at Brown had been interrupted by his conscientious objector service as a psychiatric aide at Butler Hospital in Providence, RI. Years later, he contributed a chapter to author and Vietnam veteran Terry Nau’s 2020 “Voices of the Vietnam War.”

As vital as connection and community were to Steve, he sensed from an early age that his connection to himself would define his life. He wanted to know the power invested in him with that first breath. At Brown and in subsequent years, he searched scriptures and writings of theologians and philosophers, questioning their explanations and rationales. His thirst was for the experience of God that he could know within himself. True to that thirst, he found a lifelong teacher who guided him to turn inside to the profound peace that became the cornerstone of his life, his go to place.

Steve knew the things that would balance him: feet on the ground, hands in the soil, connecting to people, knowing the wonder within. He was a true gardener, nurturing all things good, all things beautiful.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to a Celebration of Life for Steve on Saturday, May 4th at 11:00 AM in the St. Raphael Academy Coutu Theatre, 43 Maynard St. Pawtucket, RI, 02860.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Raphael Academy, in Stephen's memory, would be greatly appreciated.

The family would like to thank all of the medical professionals that cared for Steve so compassionately during the past year.  Special thanks to the staff at Hope Health Hulitar Hospice Center.