“As we see increased homelessness and increased panhandlers, this is a moment to look inside ourselves and ask ourselves what kind of community we want to be,” Elorza said, speaking from atop the steps at City Hall. “Do we want to be the kind of community that cuts resources for mental illness or fails to invest in homeless shelters, or cuts resources for legal services for the indigent? Do we want to be a community that is not complacent in the face of inequality of income and wealth? Do we want to be a community that invests in affordable housing? Do we want to be a community that believes in workforce opportunities? And do we want to be a community that works to address the persistent challenges of racial injustice?”

He added, “We are not interested in simply relocating the issue. We are looking for lasting solutions that balance the rights of the people of our city. We are not going to benefit by pushing people from one street to another. What we are announcing here today is not just a plan. What we are announcing here today is an approach to work collaboratively, compassionately and creatively to make sure that no resident of our city or of our state ever gets left behind.”

Elorza said the city will open a day center for homeless people, provide financial support for Amos House “A Hand Up” program, a jobs program for people who are homeless and/or struggling financially, and offering support to Emmanuel House’s program for helping people with substance abuse problems. Police presence has already been increased in downtown – and Public Safety Commissioner Steve Pare said arrests have increased – and parking meter-like machines will be located downtown so people can give to social services rather than directly to another human being.

“Most importantly,” said Elorza, “we will work with a broad coalition to advocate for the critical resources to provide for mental health, substance abuse, legal services and housing supports to our families and people in need – resources and funding we’ve seen reduced in recent years.”

While Paolino’s press conference yesterday relied heavily on the business community, Elorza’s event featured several state and city elected officials. In attendance were state legislators: Maryellen Goodwin, Josh Miller, Edie Ajello, Aaron Regunberg and Grace Diaz as well as city councilor Mary Kay Harris, Wilbur Jennings, Brian Principe and Michael Corria.

“What we are talking about is ‘One Providence’,” said City Councilor Mary Kay Harris, who represents downtown Providence, echoing the Elorza’s campaign theme. “One Providence includes the rich and the poor. It includes the poor working class and the workers altogether.”

Eileen Hayes, the director of Amos House who champions the plight of people who are homeless, said, “Our fellow citizens are struggling, especially those who are homeless and do not have the financial resources to care for basic needs. Every single business community should find a way to offer a job to homeless person who wants to work. They are good people and they are good workers. We believe that we cannot criminalize behaviors based on people doing the best they can to survive without offering viable solutions including jobs and housing.”

While Paolino’s press conference was held at the Convention Center and was invite only, Elorza’s was the steps of City Hall. Both were disrupted – Paolino’s by angry activists and journalists who couldn’t attend and Elorza’s by a woman who said she needs more social services. Elorza’s press event featured activists who advocate for the homeless, while Paolino’s expressly kept many advocates from attending.

When Elorza was asked if he wished Paolino and more members of the business community attended his event he said, “I’ve had many members of the business community reach out and express their support for what we are doing and I look forward to continue working with anyone who truly wants to address the long term root cause issues.”

The grand opening of the new 29,000 square foot operations center for Amos House – Rhode Island’s largest social service agency and soup kitchen – was a gala affair for South Providence. Pine Street was temporarily closed to accommodate the large crowd. Senator Jack Reed, a slew of state legislators, Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements and many other local dignitaries were on hand. There were several congratulatory speeches and then tours of the new facility, complete with refreshments and lunch. State Senator Harold Metts donned a dashiki, a traditional West African shirt, for the occasion.

Senator Jack Reed, who was a pro bono lawyer for Amos House as a young man, said “Amos House provides an extraordinary service to the community. It represents, really, the best of Rhode Island. And now they have the facilities to help them do it much better.”

The new $6 million facility was paid for, in part, by a $1 million gift from Rhode Island Housing and a federal money secured by Senator Reed. Employees of Amos House, half of whom are former clients, contributed $45,000 of their own money.

“When we embarked on this project seven, eight years ago, many people said we would not do it,” said Eileen Hayes, the popular CEO of Amos House. “We could not possibly raise $5 million for a community center on the south side of Providence. But guess what, we did it!”

The facility has a large dining hall and a kitchen on the first floor. On the second floor there are classrooms, group meeting spaces and a state-of-the-art computer lab. Staff offices are on the third floor.

The Red Bandana Fund was also created to be a legacy to help sustain Rhode Island’s community of individuals and organizations that embody the lifelong peace and justice ideas of Walton. Through the Red Bandana Fund, an annual financial award will be made to an organization or individual whose work best represents the ideals of peace and social justice that exemplify Walton’s life work.

Stephen Graham, a member of committee organizing the fundraiser, noted that 12 nominations received. “There were many deserving nominations, all of which one could make an excellent argument for the award,” he said. “After much deliberation and agonizing, the Red Bandana Fund decided to give not one but two awards,” noted Stephen Graham, a member of the committee. “Awards will be given to longtime community activist and hell-raiser, Henry Shelton, and the other to the passionate, unrelenting organizing workers called the Providence Student Union (PSU),” he says, noting that their work embodies the spirit and work of Walton, a well-known social activist in the Rhode Island area who died in 2012.

“Richard would have loved the choices,” noted Graham, a very close friend of Walton’s and a retired community activist.

The Red Bandana Fund celebration takes place on Sunday, June 8 at Nick-a-Nees, 75 South Street. In Providence from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event is open to the public and donations accepted. Shelton, a former Catholic priest and long-time director of the Pawtucket-based George Wiley Center, is known throughout the region for his steadfast commitment to bettering the lives of all Rhode Islanders, especially the poor and disadvantaged. As a longtime advocate for the needy, he has been a fixture on the streets and at the statehouse for decades, advocating for fairness in housing, public transportation, and medical care.

“It is not an understatement to say that Shelton is the conscience of this state and has been for a long, long time,” says Graham, noting that there was no way Shelton could be ignored.

The committee also honored a new generation of young people working to make a better world, added Graham. So, the Red Bandana Fund also recognizes the PSU for its groundbreaking work done in addressing important issues of education in creative and powerful ways. The PSU is an important voice in the debate over the value of high-stakes testing, challenging the NECAP tests as a requirement for graduation, and has forced officials and politicians to address their concerns, he said.

“It is their commitment to grass-roots organizing and social change, at such a young age, that has earned them the recognition and thanks of the Red Bandana Fund and for all those fighting for justice in today’s society,” says Graham. Coming up with a name for Walton’s fundraiser was tied to his unique fashion sense and was the idea of his daughter Cathy Barnard and Richard, her brother. Like most people, Richard had a vivid, visual image of his father, who had long white hair and beard, being known for wearing his trademark worn blue jean overalls, a red bandana and Stone Soup baseball cap. After Walton died his close friends came over to his house and wanted one of his red bandanas to remember him. Thus, the red bandana became the perfect moniker and recognition for the annual fundraiser.

Says Bill Harley, also on the organizing committee, The Red Bandana Fund is a continuation of Walton’s tradition of having an annual birthday bash – usually held the first Sunday in June, to raise money for Amos House & the Providence-Niquinohomo Sister City Project and other progressive causes. Over 24 years, Walton had raised over $40,000 for these favorite charities, attracting hundreds of people each year including the state’s powerful political and media elite to his family compound located at Pawtuxet Cove in Warwick

“We hope all the people who attended Richard’s parties in the past [1988 to 2011] will show up for the event and you can bring your favorite dish for the potluck,” adds Harley.

“This is our second year giving the award,” said Bill Harley, a member of the selection committee. “We chose the awardees from a great list of nominations, and decided to acknowledge both young organizers, and one of our long-time heroes. Too often, the people who are in the trenches working for us don’t get recognized. We hope the Award begins to address that shortcoming.”

According to Graham, “last year’s event was more of a concert and tribute to Walton.” Over 300 people attended the inaugural Red Bandana fundraising event in 2013 at Shea High School, raising more than $11,000 from ticket sales, a silent auction and raffle. At this event, the first recipient, Amos House, received a $1,000, he said. Graham says the well-known nonprofit was chosen because of its very long relationship with Walton. He was a founding board member, serving for over 30 years, being board chair for a number of years. For almost three decades, the homeless advocate spent an overnight shift with the men who lived in the 90-Day Shelter Program each Thursday bringing them milk and cookies. Each Friday morning he would make pancakes and eggs in the soup kitchen for hundreds of men and women who came to eat a hot meal.

As to getting this year’s Red Bandana Fund off the ground, Harley says: “It’s been a year of fits and starts to make this thing work. I believe that the establishment of this award, and the honoring of people on a yearly basis, will help us build a community here that can transform our culture. It’s a little thing down the road, I can envision this award meaning more and more to recipients, and to the community those recipients come from.”

Walton touched people’s lives, Rick Wahlberg, one of the organizers. “Everyone had such an interesting story to tell about Richard,” he stated, noting that the Warwick resident, known as a social activist, educator, humanitarian, very prolific writer, and a co-founder of Pawtucket’s Stone Soup Coffee House “had made everyone feel that they themselves had a very special, close relationship with him.” Like last year’s inaugural event, Wahlberg expects to see many of Walton’s friends at the upcoming June 8th fundraiser. He and others attending will view this event as a “gathering of the clan” since those attending will be Walton’s extended Rhode Island family.

So, block out some time on your busy Sunday. Come to the Red Bandana Fund event to remember our good old friend, Richard Walton, and support his legacy and positive impact in making Rhode Island a better place to live and work. Enjoy the gathering of caring people who come to recognize the advocacy efforts of Shelton and the PSU to carry on Walton’s work.

Spread the word.

Core participants in organizing this year’s Red Bandana Fund include, Bill Harley, Stephen Graham, Jane Falvey, Barbara & Rick Wahlberg. Other participants included Jane Murphy, Jodi Glass, Cathy Barnard and Richard Walton, Jr.

For more information about donating to The Red Bandana Fund, click here.

Herb Weiss, LRI’12, is a Pawtucket-based writer who covers health care, aging, and medical issues. He can be reached at hweissri@aol.com.

As my co-editor, Rhode Island College (RIC) President Nancy Carriuolo will tell you that the late Richard Walton clearly understood the power of the emerging Internet and the power social media would wield in our daily lives.  The beloved social activist and educator who put tireless energy and effort into supporting many worthy causes began emailing and connecting to his family and vast network of friends electronically in the early 1990s. 

 Over 20 years, he would literally write thousands of correspondences on a vast array of topics including serious social causes, baseball and boxing, politics and even entertaining observations about Rhode Islanders and local events.

 Honoring the Late Richard Walton

According to Carriuolo, the late activist’s and educator’s love and active involvement in social media prompted the creation of our e-book, The Selected E-Mail Correspondences of Richard Walton, which offers his sampling of correspondence.  As co-editors of this tribute to Walton, we invite you to a RIC Foundation fundraiser, where we will unveil our e-book in his memory, from 2-3 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, at the RIC Student Union Ballroom, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence. We will offer readings from this e-book. The suggested donation for the event is $10. Proceeds will be used to equip the English Department Conference Room, which will be named in Walton’s honor.

Last winter, Facebook notification of a memorial event held at Roots Cafe in Walton’s honor brought Nancy Carriuolo and I together with hundreds of others shortly after Richard’s death to celebrate his extraordinary life.   We began to correspond via Facebook.  She sent me an e-essay that Richard had sent her about “the Encyclopedia Britannica going out of print and wondering what would happen to his Encyclopedia Britannica when he passed.” In return, I sent her an essay titled “The great and good Hammerin’ Hank Tears for my Boyhood Baseball Hero,” telling his love and admiration for the legendary baseball player, Hank Greenberg, and the tears he shed for a long dead baseball player.

In our social media chats, Carriuolo admitted that she had saved some of Walton’s emails.  “Who could delete a correspondence with the subject line:  ‘Do I Really Have to Wear Long Pants?’ which was written in response to her invitation to recognize Walton as a founding adjunct union president at my opening annual meeting of faculty, administrators, and staff,” she remembers, telling me that  “I just could not bear to delete any of his emails.”  I shot back an email saying that I bet others had saved Richard’s emails, too, then asking her that maybe we should do an e-book?  That was the beginning of our editorial project.

 Walton’s 91-page e-book is comprised of electronic correspondence shared by many of his friends and colleagues.  Being a brilliant writer and an observer of life, Walton covered topics as diverse as progressive issues on the topic of homelessness (spending Christmas at Amos House), the Rhode Island governor’s race, national politics, education and women’s rights.  He jumped into giving his two cents about the Lion’s Head, his favorite New York hangout, as well as boxing and baseball, and even his views on religion.

In one of my favorite emails in our e-book, Walton shared his great admiration for the great first baseman, Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers.  His love for this Jewish baseball player began as a small child when he grew up in Providence listening to the game on the radio with his grandfather during an era of rampant anti-Semitism and racism.  Even at the ripe old age of 72, the seasoned journalist wrote a powerful Op Ed in The Providence Journal about Greenberg after reading a four-star review of the movie, “The Live and Times of Hank Greenberg.”  He even admitted that he shed tears over “a long-dead baseball player,” this giving me a glimpse into how Walton as a young man would not accept the bigotry of his time and who would later turn his attention and tireless energy to fighting against society’s ignorance and indifference to the less fortunate.

 As to other e correspondences…

• On his career choices: Walton admitted, “I did turn down a job as an NBC News correspondent because I refused to shave my beard.”
• On the fact that at age 79 he traveled to Shanghai to teach children, he quipped, “It might turn up in a game of Trivial Pursuit some day.”
• On his losing battle with leukemia, Walton noted, “I’m going on a great adventure.”

 The Life and Times of Richard Walton

 With his prominent long white beard and his red bandana, decked out in blue jean overalls and wearing a baseball cap, Walton, who passed in 2012 at the age of 84, was a well-known figure on the Rhode Island scene. In the early ’80s, he ran as the Citizen’s Party vice presidential candidate. Later, he became an early member of the Green Party. At Rhode Island College, where he taught English for more than 25 years, he ran a successful campaign to unionize adjunct faculty, serving as the union’s first president.  With his death, RIC President Carriuolo called for lowering the flags on campus to half-staff in his memory. 

Born in Saratoga Springs, New York, Walton grew up in South Providence in the 1930s, graduating from Classical High School in 1945.  After taking a two-year break from his studies at Brown University to serve as a journalist mate in the U.S. Navy, he returned to receive a bachelor’s degree in 1951.  He whet his appetite for music by working as disc jockey at Providence radio station WICE before enrolling in Columbia University School of Journalism where he later earned a master’s in journalism degree in 1955. 

Walton’s training at Brown and Columbia propelled him into a writing career.  During his early years he worked as a reporter at The Providence Journal, and the New York World Telegram and Sun. At Voice of America in Washington, D.C., Walton initially put in time reporting on African issues, ultimately being assigned to cover the United Nations.

The prolific writer would eventually publish 12 books, nine being written as critical assessments of U.S. foreign policy.  As a freelance writer in the late 1960s, he made his living by writing for The Nation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Village Voice, Newsday, The [old] New Republic, Cosmopolitan, even Playboy.

A self-described “peacenik,” the journalist was known not only for his political views, but also for his charity and volunteer work with such fixtures as the Amos House homeless shelter, The George Wiley Center, grassroots agency that works to alleviate problems associated with poverty and the musical venue Stone Soup Coffeehouse. In fact, for many years he used his birthday party to host a highly regarded and well-attended annual fundraiser to support Rhode Island’s homeless community.

 I know that throughout his life, Richard Walton served as a role model for generations of activists, watching out and protecting Rhode Island’s voiceless citizens, showing all that positive societal changes could be made through sound arguments.

 E-Book Allows Us to Re-Experience Walton 

 While we can no longer see our friend, Richard Walton, in our daily travels, his essence, keen observations and thoughts about our wonderful world can be found in his e-writings.  As stated in my afterword in Walton’s e-book, “his emails will magically propel you into the distant past, when he stood among us, allowing us to easily remember our own philosophical banters and discussions with him, even giving us the opportunity to re-experiencing his sharp wit, humor and his humbleness.” 

“While so painful to admit that he is no longer here, his beautiful and thoughtful and provocative writings to his family and friends make him come alive once again to us.  Just close your eyes after you read the emails in our e-book.  I am sure you will once again feel his energy and essence.”   

For more details about RIC’s reception to honor Walton or contribute to dedicate a room in his honor, contact Paul Brooks at (401) 456-8810. Donations should be made to the RIC Foundation with the notation:  Richard Walton.

Richard Walton touched so many, from students to advocates to the homeless to musicians to the oppressed. Richard was always there. Besides being so active in the community, he worked for 27 years as an adjunct professor at Rhode Island College.

A memorial and tribute for Richard is being held this Saturday at 3pm at the Roots Cultural Center, 276 Westminster Street Providence. You are invited to help us celebrate a life well lived. The mailing address for Amos House is P.O. Box 72873, Providence, RI 02907. They aceept on-line donation via credit card, including a space on the form for an “in memory of” designation. Read the first installment of this online memorial here.

Rhode Island College

Richard’s bereavement notice was sent out to the entire Rhode Island College community and the campus flag was flown at half staff.  RIC President Nancy Carriuolo wrote:

Office of the President
Dear Colleagues,

I have very sad news to share.  Richard Walton, beloved adjunct faculty member in the English Department and President of the Adjunct Faculty Union, passed away yesterday.  Please follow the link for more specifics http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/12/rhode-island-fixture-richard-j-walton-dies-at-age-84ready.html.

I have asked that the college flag be flown at half- mast in his memory.  Richard loved our college, the students and his colleagues.  He will be missed greatly by our campus community as well as by many others in RI who benefitted from his knowledge, concern, and generosity.

As any more information becomes available, my office will forward it to you.

Sincerely,
Nancy Carriuolo

Richard often got letters from students. The ‘you changed my life’ kind. He thought it was typical. He was irreplaceable. He was never negative about any of the students. That was one of the things people picked up from him.

Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 1:39:20 PM
To: Walton, Richard
Subject: Writing 100

Hello, Professor!

It’s been quite some time but I took your Writing 100 class my very first semester of college back in 2007 and my experience with you and that class has stayed with me throughout my undergraduate career. It remains one of my fondest memories to date. I wrote a piece on women and society’s beauty ideal that brought you to tears during discussion one day. I’m emailing you today because I recently had an idea for a children’s book and I’m not quite sure what the first step would be in producing such a thing or where to start. I would love to meet for coffee one day and discuss these ideas with you! I truly value your opinion and any advice you could give me. I hope this finds you healthy and happy on such a beautiful spring day!

________________________________________
From: Richard J. Walton [richard@RichardJWalton.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 4:36 PM

Subject: You’ve Made This Wintry Day Like Spring

What a nice surprise,  … after nearly five years!  I still remember the name but the face that goes with it is dancing just beyond my recall … but we can deal with that by having that coffee you suggest.  I’m on campus only on Mondays and Wednesdays for classes at 2 o’clock and 4 so perhaps we could meet sometime before my 2 o’clock. I’ve been teaching a lot of years and a rare note like yours is so very welcome, especially as I near the end of my teaching years.  Getting a book published is increasingly difficult and I’ve been away from publishing for a good many years.

Yet books are still being published and maybe our conversation would come up with something helpful so, yes, let’s have that coffee soon.  The Café is quite a nice place.

On this day that feels more like January than late March, you can imagine, I hope, how nice it was to receive your note, to be remembered fondly after so many years, so many classes.  I’m looking forward to our conversation.  Suggest a couple of times and we’ll pick the best one.  Again, thank you for that very nice note.

Richard Walton.  

P.S.  I still weep in class now and then.  I am so lucky to have taught for so many years.  Best job in the world

Maureen Reddy, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Department of English, Rhode Island College

He was a wonderful colleague, adjuncting for 27 years. He taught Political Science and English… academic writing: Freshmen course. He gave students a place to write a lot with a lot of chances to revise. He got stellar evaluations from students who often went in kicking and screaming. All the “not me, I’m an Anthro.” majors. He converted them all. They didn’t want to take it but they loved it. He knew how to criticize without being hurtful. They slowly realized that it’s obvious that ‘he just wants us to be good writers’.

He was so sad about leaving RIC. He loved teaching. Last Spring, he told me ‘Ok, this is really it.’ We all threw a party but instead he got sick. He said, ‘No way could he be here in September but he would be there in the spring.’ But he can’t now.

Here’s an email he sent me. 5:55am ‘I walk up very concerned about one of my students. She wrote about suicide and I know they have vivid imaginations but I couldn’t ignore it. “I care about you” he wrote back. Who else is going to do this? 82 years old. Don’t worry about me. Perfect. Exactly the right balance, no insulting her. He was wonderful.

Jim Kittridge, Adjunct Faculty – RI College English Department

We started unionization in 2005 for the adjuncts as the only un-unionized group on campus. Richard’s greatest asset was his ability to communicate. He could talk with anybody. We was very valued because of that. When it came to it, there was no question he should be the 1st president. If anybody had the temperament, if anybody could talk to the adjuncts, it was Richard. He had a natural way with computers and inquiries and details all across the spectrum at RIC. He was part of the negotiating team that secured the 1st contract. 18 months of negotiations; very foundational proposals. He put a lot of effort into building those proposals. We were meeting 3-4 times a month, forging new ground. With his skills, he was uncanny in negotiating. He felt it was one of the best things he ever did. Genuine and meaningful.  He felt it was a legacy that will be passed on.

Adjuncts are hired on a course basis, semester by semester, limited to 2 courses to avoid benefits. Higher Ed is using this job definition more and more. Just like business. In business, they’re “independent contractors”. PHD’s are a dime a dozen these days. We get 300-400 applicants for a position. We’ve had a steady erosion of state legislative support over 20 years. Back then, 70% of the positions were full-time, now it’s barely above 50%. He had a great sense for justice. He just realized that they deserved to be recognized. And the union won! We got official recognition in approximately 2007. He negotiated 17 months for that 3 year contract (2009). He was an avid reader and could talk about anything. He was self-deprecating, down to earth, very reasonable, very level. A hard core group of 7-8 people brought this about.

He was grounded in equality. He fundamentally saw that (the union) as fundamental. The second round happened while he was in chemo. He was fatigued and tired, but his mind was still there. There were private meetings: went right to the heart of the matters. How to rebut… strategies… that kind of thing. They went on for 8 months in 2012. He missed the last two or three but he was still demanding to know about what went on. He had to know right away. Each year was different but the solidarity was steady.

All of us are equally saddened, it was very quick. We were going to give him a gift as this was his last year as president. He loved the RI College chairs because they were so comfortable. The weekend before Christmas, Saturday, we decided to make a surprise for him. We went in first and talked. Then we went out to the car and brought him back a chair. He was so happy; he was tickled pink. A few days later he was gone. He looked so good, like he had another several years left.

C. Kelly Smith, Community Advocate, Pawsox fan and volunteer at Stone Soup

Richard was a sweet guy with a good heart and his spirit was always so giving. I knew him through Stone Soup. He was at all the anti-war protests. He was always there. And at McCoy. We saw each other there a lot.

At Stone Soup, he was the constant reminder of stacking all the chairs and cups in the kitchen. I had to take his place once, and I felt like “How could I take his place?” He would get up and just start going “sssshhhh” and everybody would laugh. I tried to get a ticket to a sold out event once and Richard found out and got a mystery ticket left at the door. He made it possible for me to go. I loved having chats with him about world politics. Later in his life he got to do some of the traveling that he always wanted to do.

Carol and Henry Shelton, long time community activists and advocates for the poor in Rhode Island

We’ll always remember Richard’s long term service, his steadfastness, his actions, and his creative ideas at the Board meetings for the George Wiley Center. You always knew you could count on Richard. We’ll never forget what Richard’s question would be all the time on the finances: ‘Are we above water?’ Or ‘Are we sinking?’ But then that’s always the question, isn’t it. It never goes away.

Richard represents the best of community activism and peacemaking. His consistency in supporting low income and peace issues, in various parts of the world, is something you can never forget. He was an example for all of us. We all adhere to the common principles of justice, we all do what we can but it is always nice to see that dogged principle from those that made commitments that lasted their lifetime. He had a nice balance between peace making and a love of music and good beer and good times. We’ll always remember the Rhubarb pies that we made from his garden. We always a made a big pie for his party but sometimes it would go so quick we would make a 2nd pie just for him. His garden was another of his passions. We just got rid of the Thai hot peppers within the last week or so. He was a nice combination of love of a good party and activism. Every year, a large bag of Rhubarb that would arrive on the front porch. Hillary Salk’s granddaughter, Bianca, took Richard’s writing course, and graduated from Emerson College.  The recommendation that Richard wrote was absolutely splendid. It helped her get in. At RIC, we would always have a protest every week against the Iraq war. We did that for about a year. Richard was always there.

Jim Tull, Professor of Global Studies at Providence College and former Director of Amos House

His main contribution was to peace and justice work. I’ll never forget Richard’s style… he can get pretty sophisticated about foreign policy but he did not do that. He eschewed that side, his contribution was ‘This was wrong.’

Ironically, given his long career in journalism, he was not prone to getting very detailed about any particular issue. He presented himself, politically and morally, as a voice for peace and justice in the world. And he avoided conversations that distracted from that very fundamental imperative; that distracted from that moral conversation.

He did a panel once, with Mark Patinkin, on the 1st gulf war: He (Patinkin) couldn’t get Richard to say anything other than ‘War is only going to make everything worse. War has never served the function of making anything better.’ He would just not budge. Everybody else was talking about oil, the Kuwait invasion and the details of why we should go to war. ‘War is never going to be the answer.’ And I kind of wanted to shake him, because I knew he could argue. But he would not budge. Richard knew that no argument for War was going to make anybody’s life any better. Despite his expertise, he just said no.

His style was as a creature of habit. He didn’t just go occasionally, he would go every week. Eleven years in front of the federal building, protesting the war in Central America. He locked in habits. Aristotle defined virtue as a habit. He only stopped doing something if hell freezes over. He makes commitments and then he habituates that commitment. I’ve never met anybody in my entire life that approached peace and justice that way. Every Friday, we would retire to the Custom House after the vigil. He was always open to a good beer or two.

Most people who are 83 years old just want to sit home. We used to go to McCoy stadium and we would pick up people along the way. They didn’t even know we were coming. We would just grab them. That was Richard.

Phil Edmonds, Irish musician and community advocate

Along with some people like Catherine Rhodes, Jim Tull, and myself, we would try to get a little sleep inside refrigerator boxes on the cold steps of the Federal Building near Kennedy Plaza. One memorable night, I remember this sight of Richard wrapped in a sleeping bag, pacing the sidewalk all night during the freezing, sleepless, ‘Sleep Out to End Homelessness’ that took place many years ago on the Martin Luther King Holiday in January. I’ll never forget that one.

Another vision is of him being escorted by the police out of Rep. Ron Machtley’s Pawtucket office for a sit-in, protesting the Congressman’s support of the U.S. War in El Salvador in the late 80s.

Richard also loved to volunteer at Amos House’s Men’s Residence, especially on Christmas Eve so he could pass out gifts on Christmas Day to the men who were homeless.  He volunteered at Amos House for decades. He loved that.

Those are the ways I will always remember Richard.

Richard’s Birthday parties, Annual Events that were not to be Missed

His parties were where you experienced the true scope of his influence. Hundreds of people from all walks of life would come to his house in Warwick, overlooking Pawtuxet Cove, bringing food, instruments and checkbooks for Amos House.

This is the original invite that has been passed along over the years:

Hi, As many of you know, a long time ago when Richard

Walton was about to turn 60, a bunch of his Stone Soup

friends [Jann Campbell, Joyce Katzberg, Jane Murphy,

Steve Snyder, Bill Harley, Debbie Block and others]

decided that this milestone should be celebrated with

a party.

   Sounded like a good idea to Richard but since he

didn’t want any gifts, he decided to make it a benefit

for Amos House [where he has now been a volunteer for

decades] and the Providence-Niquinohomo Sister City

Project [he’s been there numerous times].  The party

was such a success, not only as a party right there

on the shores of Pawtuxet Cove but it raised a couple

of thousand dollars.  So when the next year rolled

around Richard decided to repeat the party, calling it

his 60th Birthday Party, Part II.  It too raised a

fair amount of money so he decided to make it an annual

event, in five-year increments of Part I, Part II, etc.

And over the years we’ve raised about $75,000, not so

bad for friends making donations at a party.

   Last year’s was 80th Birthday Party, Part IV and

as spring approached his year, people began asking about

Part V … but Richard felt himself running out of steam.

He was in a dilemma: he didn’t want to just abandon what

has become something of a tradition but he didn’t have

the energy to pull together another 200-person party.

What to do?  Then Bill Harley had a good idea: maybe it

could be held at Len Cabral’s fine arts center/club, the

Roots Café, in the space formerly occupied by the Black

Rep Theatre, 276 Westminster St..  Len thought it was a good

idea so that’s what’s going to happen: Sunday afternoon [2

to 6], May 27.  It’ll be much like the parties at the Walton

Compound: people will make donations to one or both charities,

they’ll bring delicious pot luck dishes [drinks will be

available at Roots] and it will be another wonderful afternoon

and Amos House and the Sister City Project will again benefit.

   So this is a long-winded invitation and since the 80th

Birthday Party, Part V is a week earlier than usual and at

a different place, we’re hoping you’ll spread the word

as far and as wide as possible.  And I hope to see you

there.  Richard.

   P.S.  Will this be my Last Hurrah?  At my age, who can

say.  Check with us a year from now.”

His last invite to his last party is a treasure I’ll always preserve.

From: Richard J. Walton [ mailto:richard@RichardJWalton.org ]
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2012 2:44 PM
To: Stephen Graham
Subject: Please Spread the World about Party Sunday Afternoon, May 27 at Roots

Hi, Steve:  I’m so damn disorganized.  I’ve probably already asked you this but I wanted to make sure.  You have such a wide circle of friends and I hope you are spreading the word about my 80th Birthday Party, Part V on Sunday afternoon, May 27 at Roots.  I just ran out of steam and didn’t have the energy to pull together another big party here … but Bill Harley and Len Cabral had the terrific idea of holding it at Roots, a damn good place.  This may well be my Last Hurrah but I didn’t want what had become a tradition to end with no notice.  I hope it’s a success.  More details follow (as written by my anonymous helper)…

and I certainly expect to see you there.  Thanks for your help.  Richard.

You are invited to help us remember and celebrate Richard’s life this Saturday (1/19/13) at 3pm at the Roots Cultural Center 276 Westminster St. Providence

Photos from Richard’s Birthday party in 2008 are available here.

Writing this has been so hard. You can’t include everyone; he traveled in wide, wide circles; only he knew what they all were. The sadness still abounds.

Richard still lives in our memories. His heart was the biggest I’ve ever known. It welcomed everyone and everybody. Not in an over-the-top, you’re my best buddy way but with a warm smile, sincere eyes and patient listening. Richard Walton let you know right away that he was you’re friend; a skill very few of us develop with such intensity. He leaves behind a legacy of living by example, of showing us how to be. He made me, and numerous others, a better person. It doesn’t get much better than that.