A “Killer” with a Heart of Gold

By: Chris Sullivan

            It is hard to believe that a true legend, Walter “Killer” Kowalski, is not with us.  He is a true icon.  Mr. Kowalski was always a fighter.  Three weeks ago, doctors said that Walter would not make through the night.  Like the fighter he was, he made it three weeks.  When people went to visit him he would tell jokes and make people around him fell better, just so they did not know how he was truly feeling.  Walter Kowalski will live on in the hearts of the people he helped and touched through out his life.

            I wanted to tell a story about what Walter Kowalski did for me and for a great charity.   Many people know that Mr. Kowalski was big on helping out his community and I want to share one story with everyone.

            In October of 2007, I and my friend Anthony Aurelio were setting up a Toy for Tots charity drive with Frank West of West Real Estate in Wilmington, MA.  We wanted fans to donate either a new toy or $5 and the fans would meet the celebrity.  Seeing how Anthony and I are fans of wrestling and have helped out a number of local Indy federations we wanted to book wrestlers.  The first person we contact was Walter “Killer” Kowalski.  When it comes to wrestlers in the Boston area no one is more known than Killer Kowalski. 

            I called Walter and asked him about appearing at the signing.  Walter had no hesitation to agree to help out the charity.  The signing was set for Sunday, November 18^th, 2007.  Mr. Kowalski asked us to call him about a week before the signing just to set up the arrangements.  After Killer Kowalski was set we contacted one of his former students D.C. Dillinger and his manager Sean Gorman to appear with Walter.  Both Dillinger and Gorman worked with New England Championship Wrestling which is run by Sheldon Goldberg.  After hearing about the charity Sheldon got involved with it as well.  Anthony and I got photos to be signed made up and everything set for the autograph sessions

            When we called Walter back we spoke with his wife, Theresa and told them we would pick them up so they did not need to drive.

            When the day came for the autograph session, Anthony and I arrived at the home of the Kowalski’s.  It was a really nice house just in Malden that had a great view of Boston.  Walter asked us to put a few things in the car for him and then we were off.

            On the drive to the Real Estate office where the signing was taking place Walter and Theresa were talking about a WWE event that happened a few weeks per the signing at the Fleet Center.  They talked about how everyone was so nice to Walter and had great respect for what he for the business.  This was when the WWE was doing the storyline with people saying that Vince McMahon was there father.  Theresa said she went up to Vince saying “hi Dad.”

            When we got the signing Walter asked us to get the bags for him.  He had two bags of toys he was donating for the Toys for Tots.  He also had a number of the new WWE Classic Figures he signed and donated to a raffle Frank West was running for Toys for Tots. 

            Then it was time for Walter to start signing autographs for the line of fans that was waiting for him.  Killer Kowalski opened up his briefcase and layout some photos to sign; he did not know we were going to make them for him.  The real estate office was full of people that wanted to meet Mr. Kowalski.  His WWE Classic Figure just came out, so some people had that figure to be signed.  I remember talking to two guys that lived in New Jersey that set up a vacation to meet Killer.  Frank West, he had done a number of signing for Toys for Tots, said this has the biggest turn out.  The signing was for two hours (12noon till 2pm), but Walter stayed to be sure he got everyone.  There were a lot of people for a little more an hour, but then it was a steady flow of people for another hour.  I think he signed till about 2:30.

            After the signing, Walter told different stories about the world of wrestling.  Kowalski exampled how he got the name “Killer”.  I had heard the story from others before, but to her it from the man himself was an honor.  He went on to talk about the he jumped off the top rope and was told to knee drop on his opponents stomach (because he was being promoted as having an “Iron Stomach”), but he landed on his throat.  Anthony’s great uncle (grandfather’s brother) was a wrestling legend by the name “The Black Demon” Tony Nero.  Anthony wanted to know if Walter had any stories.  Mr. Kowalski talked about working with him in different areas.  Sorry I don’t know all the details, it was something Anthony wanted to hear.

            Everyone said there goodbyes and we headed back to the Kowalski household.  At Mr. Kowalski home he asked us to help bring some stuff inside.  I don’t know how to example what I and Anthony were feeling, but it must have been what it was like for Canadian wrestlers to enter Stu Hart’s Dungeon.  Like I said before we were wrestling fans first and Walter Kowalski is an icon in the sport we followed for year and now we were in his house.

            I hand Theresa a stack of left over photos we had made up for the signing.  Theresa wanted to pay me for them.  I was like you two volunteered your Sunday afternoon to help out charity, the least we could do is give them the unused photos.  Mr. Kowalski had left the room and came saying he wanted to give us gas money for driving them.  We told him it was an honor to do it and that we did not want his money.  Theresa said that we could not leave empty handed; she gave us both a Killer Kowalski action figure. 

            We thanked him for his time and left.  Walter Kowalski was a class act all day.  He volunteered to help out a charity, donated to the charity and then offered to pay us for stuff.  Mr. Kowalski is an outstanding person and a legend that have done so much for so many.

            I ran into Walter a few times after the signing and will never forget his giving spirit and love of the fans.  The old saying goes “God need another champion”, while it does not come any truer than Walter “Killer” Kowalski.  He lived a life few get the chance to have and I could tell he was happy.  I will never forget what he did for me on Nov 18, 2007.

            Thank you for all the memories.  We will miss you.  God speed.