Only Stardust In The Wind - Farewell My Friend...

Post by **marktownley** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:58 pm

It is with great sadness and regret I need to tell you all that Walter Koch (Swisswalter) has died.

His family and friends are struggling to come to terms with the cruel speed with which this has happened. Just over 2 weeks ago Walter tried to phone me, unfortunately I missed his call and was not able to get back in touch with him. I was then contacted by his sister who told me that while Walter and his family were away on holiday Walter was suffering with back pains, when painkillers had no effect on this he decided to go to the hospital for a check up. A scan revealed he was in the late stages of lung cancer. Less than a week after this Walters condition had deteriorated so much he needed oxygen to breathe, and morphine for the pain, with little the doctors could do. A slight recovery offered a glimmer of hope and this monday the doctors were scheduled to start chemotherapy. Sadly over this weekend Walters condition worsened still further and on the morning of monday 27th July Walter passed away.

I have been in close contact with his family throughout, and myself and Fiona were going over to visit in 3 weeks, alas I will not see my friend again. Walter wishes for his ashes to be strewn in a small lake in the foothills of the Alps where his family grew up and spent a lot of time enjoying nature and life. I don't know if we'll be able to make the funeral but we plan to visit this place to spend a little time reflecting. Walters last message really touched me; he told me he was going to go to his favourite star and look back at us all and smile.

I'm sorry to bear such sad news.

GaborKiss · Post by **GaborKiss** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 5:22 pm

I am very sad to read this, he was always very helpful when I asked something, did not know him personally but I am still shocked. I wish all the best to his family, please tell this to them Mark...

_Zakalwe · Post by **_Zakalwe** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:23 pm

A very sad loss to his family and the solar imaging community. My deepest condolences to all who knew him.

Post by **Montana** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:30 pm

Oh Mark, I am devastated, he was the life and soul of this party. May he rest in peace in our star. I am so glad that I got to meet him last September, it was priceless moment in time, he was such a funny soul and I will always miss him.

I don't know what to say...

Alexandra

Rybak · Post by **Rybak** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:35 pm

I am so sorry. My condolences.

highfnum · Post by **highfnum** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:15 pm

Just awful news
He posted just recently

pedro · Post by **pedro** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:20 pm

I'm also devastated by the sad news. Walter was a close friend although I met him only once. Over the years we exchanged lots of emails and as Alexandra mentioned he was the soul of our group. Walter will be sorely missed. My sincere condolences to Walter's family and friends

Valery · Post by **Valery** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:33 pm

Lately I asked myself several times where Walter is?
Why no posts from him, no photos.

And the saddest thing happens - he passed away.

We all will miss him.

May his soul rest in peace.

Valery

gabrieli · Post by **gabrieli** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:14 pm

What a tremendous loss.

If I could borrow one of his favourite phrases and direct it back to him and his family and friends with deepest condolences:

Thanks for all the flowers, Walter.

Lou

Carbon60 · Post by **Carbon60** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:26 pm

Thanks for letting us know, Mark. Such very, very sad news. Walter always had a good word for everyone on this forum. His enthusiasm and humour shone through and will be missed sadly.

My thoughts go out to his family.

Stu

sulcis2000 · Post by **sulcis2000** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:36 pm

What a sad news. RIP my astrosolar friend

Ale :-(

grimble_cornet · Post by **grimble_cornet** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:24 pm

Shocked and very sad.
Walter's enthusiasm and humour has been an essential part of my interaction with solar astronomy; meeting him in the flesh last year was a real highlight for me and, I'm sure, for many others. My heart goes out to his family and to Mark who I know had a special friendship with Walter.
Stardust in the wind - a wonderful thought and the way I will always remember a very special person.

Post by **solarchat** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:42 pm

I don't even know what to say. I just found this out a few minutes ago and I am just startled that a man with such a zest for fun in life and so healthy can be simply eliminated from existence in such a manner.

This is a giant loss for our forum and our community.

Here's Pedro Re, Richard Bailey, me, and Mark Townley with our beloved friend Walter 10 months ago in England.

Walter almost wrestled me to the ground in the restaurant the night before to snatch the dinner bill out of my hands...he wouldn't let me pay for it.

really bad news.

axlefoley · Post by **axlefoley** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:00 pm

I am stunned he was a great help to me personally, he will be missed.

RIP Walter

Post by **Merlin66** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:04 pm

Walter, RIP great friend...............
Our thoughts go out to the family.
A sad day for all.

Calavera · Post by **Calavera** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:04 pm

...didn´t know him but very sad to read this... - my condolences to the family here and in Switzerland

Rest in peace

eroel · Post by **eroel** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:17 pm

Hi:
Very sad news, yesterday I was thinking about him because he always knew the real names of all of us, so i was looking for his posts to find out the name of one of us, but did not find any new postings and had to go way back to find one of his always interesting comments.
For sure he now has a better view of our star.
My condolences to his family and to all his friends.
Eric.

T McVicar · Post by **T McVicar** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:07 am

I can't say I knew him, but he did comment on my post giving me food for thought. To read about his abrupt passing and that effect on the solar community saddens me. My condolences here from Canada to all his friends and family. RIP.

p_zetner · Post by **p_zetner** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:22 am

Walter was such a mainstay of this forum.
Very sad news. Sorry to hear it.

Peter.

smerral · Post by **smerral** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:15 am

How utterly sad. My condolences to his family and friends. RIP Walter.

GreatAttractor · Post by **GreatAttractor** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:21 am

This is a very sad news. I will miss Walter and his presence here.

Filip

Geremia Forino · Post by **Geremia Forino** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:41 am

news that you never want to read, I am profoundly saddened.

Rest in peace Walter

Solar B · Post by **Solar B** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:15 am

That is sad news indeed , I remember him from the good ol CN days.

Brian

jp-brahic · Post by **jp-brahic** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:40 am

What a Sad new!!!!

My condolences at the family and his friends

RIP Walter

JP

GUS · Post by **GUS** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:02 am

Very sad to hear this, a big loss to our community, condolences to the family. Thanks for letting us know Mark.

OTangen · Post by **OTangen** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 10:16 am

I am sad to hear that a regular contributer to the forum is no longer here. I never met him but enjoyed the pictures of the gang at your solar meeting in England last autumn. He always had encouraging words to me as a newbie.

Oivind Tangen
60N 10E

Derek Klepp · Post by **Derek Klepp** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 10:26 am

Like all I wondered where he was of late and although i never met him he was as we would say down here a good mate.I don,t think he ever missed commenting on a post .He forever looked for green flashes and the Southern Cross in my pics and was always glad when a more personable photo was pictured.
I shall think of him now each time I look up at the cross and perhaps its him winking back when I catch that elusive green flash.
I used to put various pics in my collages knowing that Walter would look for that that was amiss. It is a sad loss for the Solar Community and all who knew him.
Goodbye Walter a tear is shed here today.
Cheers Mate

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 10:43 am

Very Very Very sad news, Walter was one of the good guys and was privileged to spend time with him last year and chat over the internet.
Always had a good word and joke for everybody, and went out his way to reply and make everybody feel good.

Thoughts go to all his family and friends who have lost one of the best........

Now get outside and catch that gap in Walters honour........

astroshot · Post by **astroshot** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:09 pm

Ah what a tragic loss!!
My thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.
May he rest in peace.

Sunwatcher · Post by **Sunwatcher** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:17 pm

Our very own Star will shine down from the Heavens forever.

mbucky · Post by **mbucky** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:15 pm

I am heavy hearted after hearing the news, and I will miss him. I will always remember his friendly ways, great humor, and willingness to help others. He has moved on to a better place. walter, if you can read this, I will miss you man

Gordon Ewen · Post by **Gordon Ewen** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:27 pm

Mark, I feel rather shocked by the news of Walter's passing away. It shows just how people with a common interest can build a true community without actually meeting each other in person, and the sense of loss is like the loss of a personal friend. I know Walter's family doesn't know us, but I am sure we all feel for them at this time. Perhaps you could pass on sympathy and condolences on all our behalf's when you visit?
A very sad day. Bon voyage, Walter, back to the universe!!
Gordon

Pablito · Post by **Pablito** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:47 pm

Żegnaj nasz Przyjacielu. Świeć nam mocno mocą Słońca każdego dnia...

fjabet · Post by **fjabet** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 3:52 pm

A very sad news, we were exchanging on a regular basis and he was such a nice guy, always constructive and positive...

cast2003 · Post by **cast2003** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:00 pm

Even though I am not a frequent writer on this forum, and I was not lucky enough to know Swisswalter personally, I have followed what he replayed on several advice request from other, always with the will to be really helpful to others. In the occasion of the March eclipse he replayed to my post with wit and joy. I saw its post on this eclipse and I understood by seeing the photos of him surrounded by children, and by its body language that Swisswalter was a real nice, wit and happy to live person. I quote from MarkTownley post "..he told me he was going to go to his favourite star and look back at us all and smile." I think this was the Swisswalter's soul!
My deepest condolences to his family.

highfnum · Post by **highfnum** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:48 pm

Did walter live alone or with family?

Post by **marktownley** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:12 pm

highfnum wrote:Did walter live alone or with family?

With family

Luke Stacy · Post by **Luke Stacy** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:13 pm

My sincere condolences to Walter's family and friends.

I did not know Walter as well as some of the other solarchat members and did not meet him in person.

I enjoyed reading his posts and seeing his images and I loved his enthusiasm for our star. It was a shock to read that he has passed away.

Some of Walter's posts were especially helpful to me personally, in particular his trailblazing with the Daystar Quark. I have had so much fun using the Quark to observe and image the sun. I will be looking out for your smile, Walter.

Northern Cross · Post by **Northern Cross** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:37 pm

Walter has now returned to the Stars, many thanks for all the memories you have left with your brilliant images, and for those who had the pleasure of meeting you. R.I.P.

AWC

andyg · Post by **andyg** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 10:43 pm

That is really sad news.

AndyG

Astrograph · Post by **Astrograph** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:49 am

Shocked....and sobering. At least he spent his time in the Sun. RIP

Post by **marktownley** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 6:16 am

Lovely comments by everyone here, we do have a real community. I shall be sure to pass on everyones messages and condolences to his family.

Here we are doing a bit of modding in his conservatory back in 2013...

: P1140101.jpg (342.65 KiB) Viewed 3500 times

nickatnight · Post by **nickatnight** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 7:16 am

So very sad to hear this news. Peace be with him and his family.

telescopemaker · Post by **telescopemaker** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:35 pm

Wow, I did not expect to see this news! I am truly saddened, he always had kind things to say and I was hoping to meet him if I got across the pond in the next year. Another reminder to us to make the most of each day. RIP, Walter. If anyone is at the funeral or wake please pass on that he inspired us even though we were far away and never personally met.

highfnum · Post by **highfnum** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 7:52 pm

Mark it appears June 24 was his last post
there was no hint of trouble

pstew · Post by **pstew** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 6:45 am

Truly a great loss

Sungazer · Post by **Sungazer** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:35 am

So sorry to hear the unexpected news,a great loss to his family,and all the Solar community. R.I.P.

astrovale · Post by **astrovale** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:53 am

So sad! I've been told by Alexandra via email only a few minutes ago.
Rest in peace Walter: we're all going to miss you and, if you get the chance, tickle the sun a little so it will put up a great show and we'll all dedicate our images to you.
I'll miss his "thank you for the flowers".

Luca

JB80 · Post by **JB80** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:59 am

This news came as a huge shock to me, our thoughts are with his family and all those that knew Walter.
I never had the privilege of meeting him in person but his enthusiasm, knowledge and generosity for solar astronomy was exceptional and inspirational.

Thank you Walter!

robert · Post by **robert** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 12:01 pm

Thanks for posting this Mark. Very moving,
Best wishes to all and Walter
Robert