John Walsh

Dr. Walsh was our 1st pediatrician at Fremont Kaiser. I've thought of him often, and fondly, over the years. I had been thinking of him recently and googled him and found this- that he had passed away. He was a godsend to me as a young mom of 6 kids- the first 4 being sons. He encouraged me so much. He came to our 6th child's funeral. He encouraged us to not make an emotional decision' following her death as to whether we were finished having children or not- and then we had our youngest one a year later. So thankful for his wise counsel! He was caring and gentle. To his family- I am so sorry for your loss of this great man- thank you for sharing him with us for so many years- we are truly thankful!

Dr. Walsh was in the second wave of physicians hired after the original small group gave up the house in San Leandro and started in Hayward. I spent seven years with him on the Pedi ward as one of the nurses and many more in the clinic. Dr. Walsh was a nurses doctor. We were partners. I knew what he knew and he knew what I knew. I remember one night I asked him to see a surgical patient. I can't even remember what was wrong with the patient now but I felt uneasy about the child. I apologized for dragging him up to the ward when it really wasn't his patient. He said "If you are uncomfortable about the patient then so am I and I want to see them". The team was strong. It had to be or we wouldn't have survived. One evening I brought my youngest daughter into the clinic with a head injury. She lost her vision and was throwing up every fifteen minutes and sleeping in between. Evening clinic in those days ran till 9 or 10pm. By the end of clinic, her vision had returned and the vomiting had slowed. He said we could go home but I had to stay up all night and check her vitals. If it had almost been anyone else, I probably wouldn't have taken her home. He was always calm which made everyone else feel reassured. He was sharp and even up to the last week he was making medical decisions about his condition. He was a titan of the department. One of the founding fathers really. I wish everyone could have worked with him as they would be better for it.

I knew Jack since grade school. He was a fine friend, then and now. His accomplishments, personal and professional, are huge and known to all. What I most admired was that he was honorable and steadfast, and never changed his opinion about someone when they left the room. But before all, for a big guy (in many ways) and past all the sometime bluster, he was gentle and exceedingly kind. I wrote in a note to his family, after the line in the play, that "The violets in the mountain have broken the rocks." So I now remember him.

Rest his soul, and peace to all who loved him.

A wonderful person , a trusted colleague an inspiring physician.

Jack was the face of the TPMG physician: caring, dedicated and committed. He treated his little patients with such a soft touch and voice. He pulled out his stool to sit down and be more at an eye level with his patients. We all lovingly remember him as the "gentle giant".

Anabel Anderson Imbert

Jack was a wonderful, generous mentor and colleague, and I will always be grateful for his influence on my career. May his memory be a blessing to us all, and especially to his family.

A towering personality, and yet such a soft touch when he handled the newborns in labor and delivery.

The world will miss Jack. We all owe him a lot.

I remember with great pleasure the years I worked at Fremont Kaiser as the Child Psychiatrist and the kindness and support Jack always showed me. I wish his family strength to deal with their loss. Miriam (Micki) Friedland

Oh, the warm and wonderful memories of the many years I worked with Dr. Walsh in the Hayward Nursery. One funny episode: he was trying to quit smoking so we had a single cigarette sealed in a test tube and taped it on the window where he charted... just in case he had a "nicotine crisis".
The most memorable was when parents refused treatment for their newborn. Dr. Walsh was not going to let that infant die, so he called a judge in the middle of the night, got temporary custody, and we spent the night treating and saving the child. Dr. Walsh was truly a hero and outstanding pediatrician.
Condolences to his family.

I will always treasure the years we worked together in Fremont Pediatrics. He was a truly good man who left us way too soon. You are always in my prayers.
Nancy Nurse Newman

I was truly saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Walsh. When I retired from Kaiser, I missed his gentleness with the Pediatric Patient, and the nurses in the clinic, hospital and the Emergency. I missed that voice, always reassuring those that he came in contact with. My sincerest condolence to Sue, and the family.