Walter “Bunk” Read, 83, died in his sleep surrounded by his three children at his lake house in Raymond, Maine, on May 31, after a two-year illness. Walter was raised in Bayside, N.Y., before attending Bowdoin College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1960 as a member of the Chi Psi fraternity.
He married Patricia Lenihan in July 1960, and then earned a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University in 1962. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, before taking a job with Bell Telephone Laboratories in New Jersey. In 1966, he was transferred to the company’s new location in Naperville, Ill., and bought a new home in neighboring Woodridge, Ill., where he and Patricia raised their three children, Dennis, Kevin, and Trish. He closed out his professional career as an electrical engineer at Tellabs, where he worked alongside Kevin before retiring in 2000.
Walter and Patricia spent many blissful summers on Panther Pond in Raymond, first at the Plummerville cottages and then in their lake house. After sufficiently depleting the Panther Pond fish stock, often with Trish close by his side, Walter embarked on a second career as a sailor. His best times on the water, other than teaching Dennis the importance of properly fitted flotation vests, came with his numerous friends from the Lake Region Sailing Club in Bridgton, Maine. He was long-time Financial Secretary of the Woodridge (Ill.) United Methodist Church and a member of the Raymond (Maine) Village Community Church. A Mayflower descendant, he served as Treasurer for the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Maine.
Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, and his parents, Lawrence and Dorothy Read. He is survived by his sister Judith Elfring of Yarmouth, Maine; his children Dennis (Stephanie) Read of Ithaca, N.Y.; Kevin Read of Woodridge, Ill.; and Patricia Read of Jeffersonville, Ind.; his grandchildren Katie Hammett, Patrick Hammett, and Walter L. Read; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Special thanks go to his sister-in-law Kathleen Monti and his niece Lee Connolly for joining us as in-home caregivers over the past two years.
A celebration of Walter’s life was held on Saturday, June 25, at the Raymond (Maine) Village Community Church. An additional celebration service will be held on August 20 at the Woodridge United Methodist Church (2700 75th Street in Woodridge). The church will open at 1 p.m. for visitation followed by a 2 p.m. celebration of Walter's life. The family will also hold an open reception at Wheatstack (5900 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532) beginning at 3:30 p.m.
As an expression of sympathy, donations may be directed to the Raymond Community Church (PO Box 285, Raymond, ME 04071), the Woodridge United Methodist Church (2700 75th Street, Woodridge, IL 60517), or the Maine Mayflower Society (28 Beacon St., Brunswick, ME 04011).
