Ronald Walker

Obituary of Ronald Walker RONALD R. WALKER -- Newspaper Editor and Senior U.S. Congressional Aide Ronald Walker of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands and The Villages in Florida died at age 76 of natural causes on November 23, 2010 in Florida. He was born and spent his youth in Hampton/Newport News, Virginia and lived his adult life in St. Thomas, St. John, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and The Villages. His long journalism career began in 1959 as a reporter with St. Thomas' The Daily News where during 1976-77 he was editor. At The San Juan Star from 1962 to l987, he moved from reporter to news editor, city editor, senior editor, editorial page editor, managing editor, and Washington columnist. He was a Nieman Fellow in journalism at Harvard University and taught journalism at Pennsylvania State University (his alma mater) and at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He was press secretary to the Governor of The Virgin Islands, special assistant and chief of staff to New York U.S. congressman Scheuer, special assistant to Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner in the U.S. Congress Fuster and special assistant/press secretary to Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner in the U.S. Congress Colorado. He was listed in Marquis Who's Who. In retirement, he and his wife traveled extensively internationally, and he regularly wrote editorial page and other articles of social and political commentary about Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, and The Caribbean and about international travel for The San Juan Star, St John Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, and other journals and newspapers. He was an avid photographer of nature and a keen tennis player which he taught at summer camps during his university years. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, the former Diane Mawson of St. Thomas, two sons: Mark Walker of Richmond, Virginia, and Steven Walker of Portland, Oregon: a brother in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a nephew, three nieces, three grand nephews, and three grand nieces. A memorial service will be held in St. Thomas at a date and place to be announced soon.