October 13, 1926 - August 30, 2008
 

Obituary from Tom Burke

Born in Windsor, Ontario on October 13, 1926, he was baptized as Edward Spolnik; however, to millions of wrestling fans and fellow grapplers, he was known as Walter Kowalski.  Sometimes called Tarzan, but  most mostly Killer Kowalski.  The name of Kowalski came from his early days wrestling for the late Bert Ruby, a wrestling promoter in Detroit, Michigan.  His professional name of Walter Kowalski was so ingrained in who he was that it became his legal name in the 1960s.

His wrestling career has been well documented in  various media outlets.  He was a dynamo in the ring from the time the bell rang till his hand was raised in victory.  He was non-stop action; a tiger on the loose in the ring.  He made his opponent earn their payoff.  The name "Killer Kowalski" became such a part of American culture that he was mentioned several times on the hit television series, "Seinfeld," and an indie rock back in New York City borrowed his moniker to call themselves "Killer Kowalski."

The life of Walter Kowalski outside of the world of wrestling was both public and private.  I wish to share some of moments in the life of the claw master.

His public life was busy running his wrestling school, promoting, making personal appearances for autograph shows and charity events.  He also had a weekly wrestling column in the Boston Herald; was an established photographer, having his work shown in galleries in New England, New York and California; a poet; an author and, no doubt, the most famous vegetarian in the world of bodyslams and wristlocks.

His private life started at 5 o'clock every morning.  He would spend the next 2 hours in prayer, mediation and study.  This monastic form of a spiritual life gave Walter great inner peace.  There was really no time limit on his prayer life since he would often interject prayers of glory and thanks during the day.

His wrestling school gave him the opportunity to show the fatherly side of himself.  He became a father figure to many of the boys and girls that came to learn the art of professional wrestling under his tutelage.  He not only showed them an armbar or a leglock, but he also taught them lessons of life.

He became a popular speaker at various CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) events in the Archdiocese of  Boston.  His message was not limited to those of the Catholic Faith since he was invited to speak to other faith communities with his simple message,  "God Is Love."

When it was announced that Pope John Paul II would be visiting Boston, the former world champion made a call to a Monsignor friend at the Boston Archdiocese to see if he could get a pass to see his fellow Pole.  A couple of days later, he had an envelope in the mail from the Monsignor.  He opened it up and it was a "Clergy Pass" for admission to attend the Papal Event.   Walter called his friend up to thank him, but was also perplexed how he would get by as a priest.  The Monsignor told Walter  "If anyone asks you tell them your Brother Walter from the Society of the Love of God."   No one asked and he was able to attend the historic event of John Paul The Great visiting Beantown.

The Catholic priesthood was something which had been in the back of his mind as a young man and even later while he was a wrestler.  Stories in various magazines stated that Walter was in the seminary at one time.  I asked him about this and he said it was just a storyline; however, he had a Jesuit priest spiritual guide in the '50s.  After much discernment, he felt that he was not called to the priesthood.

He donated his time to various charitable causes in New England and elsewhere.  He not only gave of his time, but he gave financial assistance as well.  He gave not only to established charities, but to the boys when they were in need.  When my father became seriously ill,  Walter came down to visit him while he was in the hospital.  This visit gave happiness to my dad and the other veterans for a while during their confinement in the hospital.  The day my dad passed away, Walter called me and said he would pray for my dad and family.

After Walter left the WWWF, he was contacted by a national brewery to come down to New York City do a beer commercial with another wrestler, Bruno Sammartino.  The commercial was filmed; however, it was never telecasted.  Walter told me that he thinks the reason it did not go on air was when he put up the beer to his mouth he made a face.

Walter was also a insurance agent for Canadian Life Insurance company.  He sold policies to several wrestlers including the late Andre The Giant.

His wrestling promotion was picking up and I would attend his cards when my work schedule permitted.   Sometimes I would travel with Walter.  I remember one time that I was with Walter and Bull Curry.  Hunger pains growled and Walter pulled into a Ponderosa Restaurant; he liked the salad bar. If you have never seen Walter eat it was like a man grazing, only at a salad bar.  His drink of choice?  "Water please; no ice."  After we ate we headed to the rest room.  When the business of nature was taken care of, we were at the sinks washing up.  Bull Curry was looking at himself in the mirror and Walter said, "Bull, you're not going to get any better looking than you are now.  Come on, we have a long drive."  Since there were some "mizarks" in the bathroom,  Bull looked at Walter, smiled, popped an Alka Seltzer in his mouth so foam started to come out and the people just ran out.  A good laugh all the way to the event.

Walter was an avid reader, history, philosophy, religion and politics with a conservative bent.  In the 1960s, Walter became a student of  "The I AM" movement started by the late Gary Ballard in the 1920s.  This was an early form of the New Age movement that has become popular in the last decade.  The color purple or the Flame of Violet was representing the Light of God in each person.  The ring gear Walter wore would be purple or have violet lightning bolts.

Walter was victorious in the squared circle for  decades, however, he was pinned down by Theresa Dodd when they married  on  June 16, 2006 at  St. Theresa's  Church in North Reading, Massachusetts.  Their courtship of nearly ten years ended the single life of Walter Kowalski.

There could be a lot more to say about Walter, however, I think it is best said in his own words in this poem he wrote some years ago and went on to live by these words.

"GOD IS NOW"

"We spend so much time in the past, dreaming about things that have been and have gone.  These things no longer exist.  The past dose not exist!

So also we worry about the future,  Something that has not yet occurred.  The future also does not exist.  There is only the present. 

We should make the present, this instant, our very own and personal creation of Joy and Happiness. 

Just think, each instant starts with a clean, new pure birth and it last forever.

Time is continually changing form one moment to the next.

Now, God does not change.   God is, and has been, the same and will always be.  Since time is always changing and God does not change, there is no God in time.

In other words, God does not require time to act for you.   God is NOW.

Each instant, every moment, starts a pure new birth; it starts Holy. 

We ourselves desecrate this Holy instant.  Each Holy instant is full of love.  Let us expand it, and make it last forever.

We start each and every moment as a holy person, make it last forever. 

This moment a holy person, make it last forever.  This moment, as you read this, I start my Holy love expanding in your world.

All my love for you, to last forever."  ~~  Walter Kowalski

My life has been enriched with the love and friendship that Walter has shown me and others that have crossed his path.  For that, I am very blessed.

~~~~~~Tom Burke

Remembering Killer Kowalski
 

Karl Lauer
 

Susan and I had the great pleasure of spending time with Walter Killer Kowalski at two CAC reunions.  He was also a gifted photographer and I purchased his book, Killer Photos which he signed for us.

Cowboy Bill Watts, Pete Maguire, Killer Kowalski

While mugging for the camera Walter put his famous CLAW hold around my throat and I am absolutely sick that I can't find a copy of it. (and glad he kept the pressure at a minimum.)

He was and remains a hero to Polish Americans everywhere such as my good friend, The Polish Prince, Robert 'Beautiful Bobby' Buszko, one of the great, all time champions of global telecommunications.

We all thought that Killer would live forever!

I remember Bill Watts asking Walter if he remembered one of their matches in Boston Garden when Bill was just a rookie.  Bill said that Walter chased him around the ring with an ax in his hand.  Walter jut smiled . . . . and said nothing.  Even the Old Cowboy was in awe of him, I could tell!

We have lost another national treasure and a legendary icon of the rasslin' business. 

I will miss him.

Pete Maguire