Interview with Mr. Tim Walker

Stories Around The Lake-Interview With Mr. Tim Walker

By Noelle Manzo-Pietrefesa

4-10-2017

“Life is like a big quest, and every day is a learning experience.”

In the words of a wise man, “Life is a quest, and every day is a learning experience.” Mr. Tim Walker was born in Fly Creek, New York on November 21, 1960 at Bassett Hospital on the 2nd floor. He went to Cooperstown Central School with Mrs. Jeannette Lyons in the guidance office, her husband Mr. Dave Lyons in Maintenance for the school, and Mrs. Laura Pestar, a school receptionist. He grew up in a house with his father, mother, three brothers, and sister. One of his brothers tragically passed away when he was 14. It’s very hard for him not to read history books. One day, his mother gave him a history book and he read part of it, then put it down to go outside. However, the book was so interesting, he picked it back up and read the whole thing! After high school, he joined the military on April 8, 1980 in the Marine Corp and had a great friend named Dave. He helped Mr. Walker to love history. Aviation was big and he loved planes. He went to New Zealand, Israel, and Spain. After that, his mother quit teaching to be with her family and Mr. Walker loves her as much as she loved him. Every weekend his grandfather would bring him to Cooperstown and talk to people as they walked down through the village. He loved fishing and going up to the boat launch with his grandfather. He has very fond memories of Main Street. Parades were huge and bands played through the night. Kids played frisbee in the street and everyone looked out for each other. He enjoyed Smalley’s Theatre and swimming in the lake. Now he feels he needs to explode with excitement and throw a frisbee down Main Street. Now he gives tours around the lake and is a substitute at Cooperstown Elementary School. He used to work at the Fenimore Art Museum and Hyde Hall. He now lives with his sons, Bob and Tim, Jr, and loves them both greatly. He loves being spontaneous. Sometime he'll grab them and drive somewhere random.

His two favorite memories are very interesting and unique. He was sitting on his grandfather's lap at 6 mile on the dock in the summertime at 7 years old. His grandfather whispered to him,” Hey, look over there. Come back next summer and it will be completely different.” To his surprise, the next year he came back, and all the trees on the shore line were gone. They had built Glimmerglass State Park where all the trees had lined the shore. He said his grandpa just wanted him to see it one last time. He also cannot forget the day he sat in front of a black and white TV and watched Neil Armstrong step on the moon. It was an alluring and enticing experience.

He finds interesting that Otsego means “Meeting Place. He says that it was. He met his first girlfriend there and always met his friends there. He loved the legend that if you whispered to someone on the lake anyone could hear you. So he would always sit by the lake and try to hear others conversations. He also was interested in sunken island. He would ask his mother about it and she would tell him a lot about it. He loves nature. He used to go deep into the woods and sit under a shady tree. It was to get rid of stress and get away from everybody. He would close his eyes so he could listen to cars, birds, and trees swaying in the wind. He says he'd love to do it again.

He says, “Growing up you are going to have BIG problems but there is always a solution. Also attitude is a big part and you have to want to learn every day. Things you think you may not do now, you may do in the future. You may go out in the world or into other cultures. Keep learning and love your family.” Listen to the entire interview to hear more fascinating experiences about Mr. Walker.