Tom Walker

Tom Walker passed away unexpectedly on October 16, 2011 at age 66. Tom was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on August 8, 1945 the son of the late Russell and Alice Walker. He graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan; he then furthered his education, receiving his Bachelor's degree at Boston College and a Masters of History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tom is a veteran of the United States Air Force having served four years during the Vietnam era.
Tom had a long and rewarding career in transportation policy and finance. After graduate school, he became the Director of the Transportation Development Association. He served as the Executive Assistant to the Wisconsin DOT secretary during Governor Thompson's Administration, and then became Executive Director of Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association (WTBA). He currently was the Director of Governmental Affairs for WTBA.

He loved all things transportation; he was often referred to as the "Guru" of transportation policy and finance. Tom's love of transportation was inherent in his private life as well; he loved to travel with his wife, Sandy. In the last ten years, they traveled to such places as London, Florence, Paris Venice, Rome, Whistler and Banff, Canada, Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Every year they took a U.S. driving trip, and as a part of those trips, visited each State Capitol. They had almost reached all fifty states. He particularly enjoyed the Tetons and visits "back home" to New York and New Jersey. He loved history and although he was a medieval history "geek" there was never a show he didn't like on the History Channel. He loved all politics and spent many hours debating with family and friends. He never missed the "all-nighters" watching the election returns come in. He was a voracious reader, not only on transportation issues, but history, science fiction, and spy thrillers. He was an active college football and basketball fan and looked forward to March Madness every year with "pool" anticipation. Most of all, he loved his family, especially his first grandson, Noah. His grandson even inherited Grandpa's great love for construction trucks, cars, and everything transportation.

Tom will always be remembered by his children as an extremely supportive and loving father. He strived to teach us his never ending knowledge, whether it was by always beating us at Trivial Pursuit games or driving us all over the country on historical tours (and yes, we tried to be listening). We will miss the life advice he was able to give us, his joke telling, and our football and basketball chats. Tom left a huge hole in the world that will not be filled.

Tom is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Sandy Beaupre; sons, Michael (Shimako), Brian (Kim), and Nick; daughters, Lisa (Matthew), and Maggie; grandson, Noah; sister, Lorraine (Ray); and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A gathering to celebrate Tom's life will be held from 4 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Rd. Madison.