Leona "Nonie" Walder

Leona Berlow Walder, "Nonie," passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025, at the age of 97.

Nonie was born in Woonsocket, RI, on May 7, 1928 to Charles Berlow and Ida Lunetsky Berlow, joining older sisters Cynthia and Evelyn Berlow.

The Berlow family moved from Woonsocket to Providence, where Nonie graduated from Hope High. Theirs was a home filled with music and learning.

Nonie graduated from Rhode Island State College (now URI), majoring in Math, Education, and Music, making a name for herself as a pianist, soloing in a senior recital, accompanying dance classes and singers, having a classical music show on the campus radio station, and giving piano lessons. She belonged to Sigma Delta Tau sorority, serving as officer and Panhellenic representative.

At RI State, she met New Bedford native Richard Walder when he returned to college to study Electrical Engineering after serving in WWII. They were married shortly after her graduation and moved to Virginia where Rick had a job at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the predecessor to NASA, and Nonie taught English at Hampton Junior High School. They returned to New Bedford where their four children, Diane, Lawrence, Marjorie, and Cindy were born. Nonie continued to teach piano and work as an accompanist. In 1957, after Rick was hired at New Bedford Institute of Technology (which eventually became UMass Dartmouth), they moved to their house in Dartmouth where Nonie still lived.

Nonie continued her teaching career in New Bedford and Dartmouth, including serving as Director of the Jewish Community Center Nursery School, teaching at Tifereth Israel Sunday School, teaching 6th grade at Clark Street School, and teaching in the Math department of Dartmouth High School for 20 years until her retirement. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a society of outstanding women educators, in which she served in various leadership roles.

In the Town of Dartmouth, Nonie was an elected town meeting member for many years, was an elected Library Trustee and served on that board for the planning and construction of Southworth Library on Dartmouth Street. She also was a member of the Friends of the Dartmouth Libraries, serving as President twice.

Nonie's music career took a turn when she joined the Dartmouth Community Band as a percussionist . "Boom Boom" Walder was a fixture in the band for over 40 years, providing a steady rhythm on the bass drum, as well as filling in on other percussion when needed.

In addition to her musical talents, Nonie was also a talented visual artist: she was a painter of still-lifes, and up to the end she designed her own greeting cards. Her family always knew there would be a delight within when an envelope arrived addressed in Nonie's perfect penmanship. Known for her quick wit and optimistic attitude, Nonie was a naturalist who enjoyed noticing the changing seasons, the growth over time of saplings to stately trees in their yard, and the birds and squirrels who often visited.

Nothing was dearer to Nonie than her family. Rick and Nonie had a long and happy marriage. Their home was always open to family and friends. They were helpful and supportive to their nieces, nephews, and cousins. Both were close to Nonie's sisters Cynthia and Evelyn, and to Rick's siblings Bernice Arenberg, Alexander, and Leopold, all of whom predeceased Nonie. Sister-in-law Marcie Walder has always been a dear friend. Nonie was the beloved Nana to her four grandchildren, Nicolas Gallyot, Joshua Rumbut and his wife Callie, Julia Gallyot and her husband Anoop Nagendra, and Noah Rumbut and his partner Zachary Pichler, and to her three great-grandchildren Bodhi Gallyot, Rachel Rumbut, and Leela Gallyot.

Other than Rick, no one was closer to Nonie than her four children, Diane, Larry, Margie, and Cindy. Margie and Cindy were close at hand every day of Nonie's recent decades and were her dearest friends. Until his passing in 2022, Larry provided much support and friendship. Diane, who lives in San Francisco, visited regularly. Their partners – Diane's late husband Richard Gallyot, Cindy's husband John Rumbut, and Larry's partner Benny Pajutan, were warmly welcomed into the family.

Funeral arrangements: Service will be at Tifereth Israel Synagogue: 145 Brownell Avenue, New Bedford, MA. Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 12:30PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to one of Nonie's favorite organizations:
Friends of the Dartmouth Libraries: North Branch Library, 211 Cross Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747

New Bedford Symphony Orchestra: 128 Union Street, Suite 204, New Bedford, MA 02740

Dartmouth Community Band Scholarship Fund: www.town.dartmouth.ma.us/295/Dartmouth-community-band

Friends of Buttonwood Park: P.O. Box 2011, New Bedford, MA, 02741

Coastal Neighbors Network: P.O. Box 80073, Dartmouth, MA, 02748

SHARE FOUNDATION: 128 Union Street, Suite LL4, Box 6, New Bedford, MA, 02740

Zeiterion Theatre: 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford MA, 02740

Tifereth Israel Congregation: 145 Brownell Avenue, New Bedford, MA, 02740

Shiva will be observed at her late residence, Monday 2-5 p.m.

To view the pre-recorded service, please click here.