Monday, June 19, 2006

After 47 years of numbers and solutions, Lee “The Chief” Walker bids farewell to Foothill and De Anza College and heads for retirement.

Walker is known around campus as “Chief” and refers to everyone else, including his students, by that name as well. “Call me Chief and I’ll call you Chief, I’ll get you through this course even if you don’t want too,” Walker has said on the first day of every quarter for almost five decades.

“He’s a bit eccentric but it’s always fun,” said Daniel Ramirez, 25, first quarter De Anza student who hasn’t taken a math course for several years. “He’s one of the best math teachers I’ve ever had. ‘Victory at De Anza!’ He’s funny.”

Walker’s students appreciate his witty personality and sarcastic remarks. A Walker trademark saying could be heard in any class lecture.

“Have a drink on me chief; it’s happy hour,” Walker would say if he saw someone drinking a beverage during his class. Even with Walker’s sense of humor, his teaching methods are designed to make you pass his class.

“Yeah, he’s funny and quick … tends to sing a lot during class but he’s compassionate and always willing to answer your questions,” said Kim Arvighi, 47, a student currently enrolled in Walker’s last math course. “He really wants you to pass.”

Chief isn’t just a nickname or an easy way to communicate with his students. Walker was an actual Chief in the Navy, working in Intelligence after receiving his master’s degree in mathematics from Stanford University in 1953.

“Of course I was a Chief; you think I would make you call me that if it wasn’t true?” Walker said with a smile on his face.

Walker served in the Navy for 18 months, but the name stayed with him for his entire teaching career.

Walker started teaching in 1959 at Foothill College and was one of the first math professors hired at De Anza when it opened in the 1970s.

Most of the professors and colleagues he worked with, many of whom helped open De Anza, have long since retired. “I think I’m one of the last. There are a lot of young faces around now,” Walker said.

Walker witnessed many changes among the generations of students that he taught.

“In the ’50s, everyone thought we had it all…the ’60s were the Haight Asbury times, hippy times…The ’70s is when I started at De Anza part time,” Walker said, reminiscing about the decades past.

“The ’80s and ’90s seem to pass by quickly, maybe too quickly.”

Walker had retirement on his mind for last couple of years and after this spring quarter, it will finally happen. His wife retired last year, which made the decision a little easier, but teaching still means a lot to him.

“I’m going to miss the interaction and the dynamics of working with different students,” he said.

“It’s hard to leave. What can I say, my job’s a plum.”