Sault Ste. Marie has lost a respected teacher, stage performer and community representative.
John David (Dave) Walsh died Thursday, July 16 after a battle with cancer.
Walsh, a husband, father and grandfather, worked as an Algoma District School Board (ADSB) teacher for over 30 years, known outside the classroom for his outstanding involvement with the local theatre scene.
“It’s sad. It’s very sad. He’s been a big part of the Comedy Guild for many years...one of his daughters is also involved in theatre. He’s left a big legacy,” said Louise Stephens, Musical Comedy Guild of Sault Ste. Marie president, speaking to SooToday.
Walsh had been with the Guild since the 1960s, continuing to perform with the group, Stephens recalled, right up to 2019, appearing in Shrek The Musical.
He received the Best Supporting Actor award at Quonta for his role in Applause, his obituary noting “he was also thrilled to share the stage with three generations of family in The Wizard of Oz and Annie (both Musical Comedy Guild productions).”
“I started off in the orchestra in 1975, so my first memories of him are of looking up at him on stage. Eventually, I was in the ensemble, then I started getting other roles and in 1993 he and I played opposite each other in The King and I. That was the highlight of my working relationship with Dave,” Stephens said.
“He was the king and I was Anna (the female lead).”
“It was really good. I think we really brought out the best in each other. That was a big role for me at that point. It was something I’ll never forget. There’s a big dance number in it called Shall We Dance? and he was whipping me around that stage with my giant hoop skirt flying behind me, and at the end of it, with the audience applauding, I said to him ‘don’t let go, I’m going to fall over, I’m dizzy!’”
“That was before we wore body microphones, so I could say that to him (without the audience overhearing her),” Stephens chuckled.
“He hung on to me and I was hanging on to him like a rope in a storm.”
“He was very positive. He always had a big smile on his face, very welcoming to the new people that would come into a show’s cast, very generous with his time in terms of talking to new people, he was encouraging. He always had a joke and a big smile,” Stephens said.
Walsh also worked with Sault Theatre Workshop, the Sault Opera Society and the Soo Theatre Project in Michigan, also being a founding member of the Northland Barbershop Chorus.
“He definitely shall be missed. Absolutely. I’ve lost a friend and a fellow performer. He was a gentleman and a gentle man,” Stephens said.
Walsh was also a member of The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Corps, a group of community-minded volunteers, instantly visible for their blue blazers as they meet and greet guests at Chamber events.
Walsh was a member of the Ambassador Corps for 28 years, having attended Chamber events as recently as last winter.
“It’s a big loss,” said Sault Ste. Marie Ambassador Corps member Jane Beny of Walsh’s death.
“He was always enthusiastic, outgoing and joking,” Beny said.
The Ambassador Corps would often be on hand to greet tourists disembarking from cruise ships visiting the Sault.
Recalling a humorous incident involving Walsh, Beny said “there were mostly German passengers (on one particular ship which came to her memory) and we would meet and greet them in the morning. One fellow came down and shook David’s hand and said “Ah, Burgermeister!” which means ‘mayor.’ He thought David was the mayor when he saw his Ambassador uniform. David always had so much fun telling that story.”
“He had an honest friendliness about him. He would greet everyone equally...there was nothing stuffy about David.”
“He was one of the friendliest faces and voices with us. We’ve lost a face and a voice, an ambassador for the Sault,” Beny said.
Having sung weekly with the choir of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Beny said “he enjoyed his church. He had that peace of mind for himself.”
“David was incredibly outgoing and always had a funny story to tell and he was a wonderful representative for the Ambassador Corps and for our community. He was a good friend to the Chamber and will be missed,” a statement from the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce reads.
To read Walsh’s obituary and for information regarding funeral arrangements, click here