Dear Mary, Eleanor, David, Lori, Charles, Heather and families, We were very sad to read of Walter's passing and offer our sincere condolences to all of you. We always enjoyed talking to Walter when we lived next door to you on Virginia Park. Also , we have fond memories of both you and Walter's kindness to us when Scott and Jennifer were born. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time. Sincerely, Ian, Susan Scott and Jennifer.

My sincere and heartfelt sympathy

Dear Mary and family: My deepest sympathy for your loss, of a wonderful man. I had the pleasure of working with Walter for about 15 years and he was a professional through and through. There is a whole generation of reporters and photographers who know how to do things right because of him. Walter would make sure you knew who to talk to at an event and who to avoid. My lasting memory of him will be his beaming smile whenver he cacme back to the newsroom and that forceful voice saying "Hi yah, Lefty, how ya doing?" God bless him. Michael Frezell - "Lefty" Asst. Metro editor The Windsor Star

Dear Mary and Family, So very saddened to hear of Walter's passing. Stan and I both cherish the good times we had at The Star functions; the stories, lots of laughter and wonderful memories. Our sincerest condolences. Stan & Sandy

Dear Mary and Family: When I arrived at the Windsor Star in 1969, my first major assignment was to go to Pelee Island and do a story on the pheasants being raised for the hunt. The combination of first major assigment and first flight inevitably resulted in some butterflies for a rookie reporter. Well, as you can guess, Walter was along as a photographer and his combination of savvy and sociability helped make the trip a pleasure in every way. That was the trip on which we met the Windsor Star stringer, "Ma" Williams, who knew all the gossip on the island. Whenever we went on other jobs, we'd often reminisce about that trip and wonder what had become of "Ma" Williams. Well, the years have passed all too quickly. Just the other week, I processed the Milestones item on your 50th anniversary. I'd heard that Walter was not too well and my mind drifted back to those days when we made that trip over to Pelee Island. I am sorry to hear of his death. He was a gentleman in the best sense of the word. My thoughts are with you at this time of grief. Sincerely, Harry van Vugt

I'm deeply saddened by Walter's passing, a legend in the Star's photo department. I had the pleasure of working with Walter for many years as a photographer and shared many laughs. Memories abound but two stand out: Walter's final assignment for the Star and the photo evidence of it at his retirement party. But that night also marked my first date with my future wife. Tracy and I join Walter's many friends in extending to his family our deepest sympathies.

Dear Mary and family, I was very sad to hear about Walter's death as I read the Windsor Star at my condominium here in Oakville.I will try to connect with you the next time I'm down in Windsor.My family had some wonderful memories with your family.As a young child and later an adult I have always enjoyed our times together. Love, Brian Gill.

I first met Walter in the late 1960s when I was student photographer at Vincent Massey, covering Mustang football games and other school events. Even though I was just a kid, I recall the encouragement he offered an eager teenager . In 1972 after a year of university convinced me a career in newspaper photography was my destiny, I showed up at The Windsor Star, sure that my young talent would make me a can't-miss asset. But I was quickly told that the photographer with the LEAST experience had been there 23 years!!! After more than two decades, the baby of the staff, they said, was Walter Jackson. Later that year I landed a job at the Oshawa Times and three years later moved on to Toronto. Over the years I had the opportunity to meet Walter a few more times, at ONPA seminars and once when I used the Windsor Star darkroom to transmit a photograph. Learning today of his death struck a sad note, but the thought of him made me smile, too. After more than 25 years as a writer and photographer at The Toronto Star, I still recall with fondness the encouragement he showed me so long ago. His gentle spirit will surely live on in the many journalists he spurred on along the way. Jim Wilkes The Toronto Star

Dear Mary and family, I was saddened to hear of Walter