Walter S. Clausen

December 6, 1948, in Coal City, Illinois, he was the beloved son of the late Walter H. Clausen

and Ethel Mae Clausen, née Waters, and brother to the late Patricia Sue Clausen.

Walter, known as Scott, pursued higher education at the University of Illinois,

Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in German and Secondary

Education from 1966 to 1970. Right after college, he served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973

as a Translator/Interpreter, utilizing his exceptional language skills in a pivotal role. He earned

an M.A in Education from Chapman University in 1985.

Professionally, Scott dedicated much of his career to language education and testing,

culminating in his role as Senior Test Project Director at the Defense Language Institute,

Foreign Language Center in Monterey, CA, from September 1993 until his retirement in

September 2011. His work had a lasting impact on language instruction and assessment within

the military.

Scott's passions were as broad and vibrant as his personality. He was an ebullient spirit who

found joy in every aspect of life. A talented linguist, he was also a great cook, an enthusiast of

classic cars, and had a deep appreciation for mixology. His musical talents were expressed

through playing the saxophone and clarinet. Travel and languages remained his enduring

interests, enriching his life with diverse experiences and friendships.

He was a generous and devoted friend, known for being a great listener and a captivating

raconteur. His absence will be profoundly felt by all who knew and loved him.

His memory will be cherished through the stories shared by those he touched and the legacy

he leaves behind. Among his dearest friends and family are: Henry Bittaker, Patrick Bowles,

Christine Campbell, Philip Cooper, Leisa Corbett, Susan Coughanur, Donna Daunt, Robert

Daunt, Jay Kalbrener, Chung Yao Kao, Larissa Kashnir, Jack Ramsay, Anders Webb, Camden Webb, Natalie Webb, and Ann Willis.

A celebration of Scott’s life will take place on October 12, 2024 For more information, email

[email protected]