Citizen Walt Crowley, growly old lefty, activist historian and Seattle bon piquante will lose his voice on Friday, February 9, 2007.
Walt's voice has been a little scratchy lately- he's been battling cancer of the larynx with what doctors believed was a winning regimen of chemicals and radiation. Last week, a year after his last treatment, doctors found more cancer. His voice will be removed at Virginia Mason Medical Center.
Walt Crowley will speak to Seattle with the voice we all know for
the last time in a conversation with Steve Scher on ITWeekday (KUOW
m-f, 9-11a) at 10a Monday morning.
(Walt will have an electro-larynx installed, the vibrating voice
thingie that makes its owner's voice sound robotic- a fate that may be
more acceptable to Walt than to us: admirer of robots that he is).
The prognosis is good for him after this surgery, but speechlessness is not an easy prospect when thinking of Walt who's a conversationalist, public speaker, and a former broadcaster.
His full-throated voice isn't restricted to the limitations of the twanging cords found in his neck- he's a great writer: his prolific eloquence has been exercised in his books- op-eds, articles, speeches, and histories on his community history Web site, HistoryLink.
Seattle first experienced Walt Crowley's raised voice in the 1960's as an anti-war, pro-justice activist and radical movement spokesman. He later became involved in mainstream politics as a political consultant, and community opinion maker.
(We're hoping now with Walt's seething cortex presumably seeking more outlets for articulation, he'll resume cartooning- a career he once considered doing full time after a "job" as Rapidograph-in-Residence on Helix, the hippie newspaper of the '60's and '70's).
Many know him from his point-counter-point Sunday night debates with KVI's John Carlson on KIRO TV in the late '80's and early '90's. He and Carlson worked together for seven years doing a popular, tight left/right debate just before 60 Minutes aired each week
HistoryLink is high trafficked, non-profit, Washington historical encyclopedia and groundbreaking Web site now widely imitated nationwide.
Walt Crowley has many friends and BlatherWatch is happy to be counted among them. Tune in Monday morning and if they're taking callers, call in and wish him godspeed, or... maybe just 'speed' would suffice for our favorite atheist.
I remember those Point/Counterpoint segments....they were excellent.
Losing his voice box is a tragedy but he obviously won't be silenced.
Posted by: sparky | February 05, 2007 at 07:12 AM
Whenever I try to tell friends - who have not heard of him - about Walt, I never know quite what to say. He sort of does it all.
Historian, politico, writer . . . a man of many words and voices.
Now, if he ever loses that bow tie . . .
I wish him well.
Posted by: joanie | February 05, 2007 at 08:29 AM
He's a great guy and I feel bad for him. I hate to preach, but I have a friend who just had a tumor removed from his lung a few days ago. If you are a cigarette-smoker, for God's sake and yours, please stop smoking!
Posted by: David Tatelman | February 05, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Walt is not only one of Seattle's brightest lights, he's a genuinely good guy. If you're reading this, get well soon, man.
Posted by: Sandeep Kaushik | February 05, 2007 at 10:51 AM
I first found Walt in the Helix, and he's been a HUGE part of Seattle's Left ever since. HistoryLink is amazing...check it out if you haven't been there! Thanks you for this, Bla'M...I know your friendship with Walt is strong and steady. Please keep him smiling and robotically laughing! Our hearts are with you, Walt!
Posted by: FREMONT | February 05, 2007 at 11:57 AM
The interview was fascinating. We are poles apart politically, but Mr. Crowley is a worthy standard-bearer for his side.
Good luck, Walt!
(As per his sense of humor, he said his new electro-voice will sound like Stephen Hawking...so he will now ALWAYS be considered the smartest man in the room!)
Posted by: Thom | February 05, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Walt Crowley was better radio than anything I've heard lately on any of the fucking stations this blog is obsessed with. Get him on the radio- even with his talking dildo!
Posted by: dill | February 05, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Double ditto, Dill...
Posted by: FREMONT | February 05, 2007 at 06:35 PM
After having listened to Walt over the years, whenever I read one of his pieces, I can "hear" him speaking what I'm reading.
So even though radio may be out, he'll continue to speak to millions.
Keep up the great work, Walt.
Posted by: adc | February 05, 2007 at 06:56 PM
How about an update on Walt's post-surgical recovery, Bla'M?
Posted by: FREMONT | February 12, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Walt Crowley is still in critical care, but doing as well as he can be. Last word I got (which was last night) he was sleeping it off.
Posted by: blathering michael | February 12, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Hello Walt,
We don't know each other though I've been in some of the crowd scenes at the Moon or Reading Gaol from time to time when you happened to be there, or on campus, appreciated the Helix back in the day...
My father, Knute E. Berger, M.D., was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx in the late 70s or early 80s, I forget exactly when. He used the robot-voice box thingy for years. After he healed and became adept at using it we eventually began to hear his own unique voice in the buzzing sound - which at first makes all users sound alike. But the rest of the voice-making structures are still there - the shape and spaces within the skull and soft tissue areas, and then there is speech patterns of pacing, cadence, emphasis, word choices, phrasing, etc. I don't claim to be any kind of voice expert, but I know your own unique speech will be yours again, though it takes more attention on the part of the listener to hear it, and it will be those who know you best who will hear it first and hear it best.
When my Dad laughed he would hold the thingy up to his throat and give a short buzz while he laughed. He even did this when he was alone listening to the radio or watching TV, reading a book... it was as much a laugh sound for himself alone as it was for him to use in company. I never caught him talking to himself with it though. Rather than growing frustrated that it required the use of one hand to use, he just grew more patient and we had to as well. We gratefully continued to appreciate his wacky stories and insights through the buzz.
All the best to you and your family.
Kari Berger
Posted by: Kari Berger | February 13, 2007 at 04:12 PM
Walt—Am still mad at you for not inviting me to your Last Words party at your house. Have been thinking of your daily and especially on Valentine’s Day at Newcastle for the Litho Craft annual breakfast, where you spoke two years ago. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future, good buddy. All the best, Larry
Posted by: Larry Coffman | February 15, 2007 at 12:39 PM