Walter Henry Lazicki June 20, 1925 - June 6, 2013

Walter Henry Lazicki was born in Los Angeles, California, on June 20, 1925. He was the youngest of 4 children. He died at his home in Newport Beach on June 6, 2013, with his wife by his side.

Walter attended Fremont High School, where he made the long-lasting friendships that facilitated his meeting Gwen, the love of his life. Upon graduating from Fremont, in 1943, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving in both World War II (1946-1946) and the Korean Conflict (1950-1952).

Walter and Gwen married in 1947 and settled in Bellflower, California. In Bellflower, Walter spearheaded a group of civicminded men who were responsible for bringing municipal water to the city. He served as the first president of the Bellflower Water Board. He was active in Boy Scouts with both of his sons, as well as the Symphony Association and Bellflower Presbyterian Church.

Between active military duties, he enrolled at UCLA, and then transferred to the engineering program at USC, He earned his BA from USC in 1950, and was a member of Chi Epsilon, an honorary engineering fraternity. His engineering attention to detail is family legend.

Walter was employed the Pacific Bell Telephone Company for 38 years. As an engineer in the Building Department, he was instrumental in the construction of the Colorado Blvd. building in Pasadena. After retiring, he worked for the city of Glendale. It was at this time that he took up golf. He played the game with the same determination with which he approached life, and was able to claim two holes-in-one.

He had a life-long love of the ocean, for both swimming and sailing. He also loved the mountains of Big Sur and organized a yearly family hike there to “the gorge”, which he was able to continue to the age of 80! He cherished family times.

Walter was a gentle man of intelligence, integrity and sincerity. He will be missed by Gwen, his adored wife of 66 years, a daughter, Gloria, sons Carl and Russell (Melanie) and, as Papa, by 5 grandsons. They will continue to share memories and carry on the traditions he lovingly established.