Oct. 8, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Former Villanova basketball standout Joe Walters, who starred for the Wildcats from 1943-45, later served as an assistant coach and maintained a close relationship with the program for the rest of his life, died Tuesday afternoon at his Villanova home at the age of 83 of an apparent heart attack.

"All of us in the Villanova family were saddened to hear this news," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "Joe Walters was as big a part of Villanova basketball as Kerry Kittles, Randy Foye, Rollie Massimino or any other Villanova legend. His love for this university and the basketball program was unconditional and his dedication to it over the course of his life served as an inspiration to all of us. No one loved Villanova more than Joe. Our university and our program will miss him dearly."

Walters played at Villanova from 1943-45 and served as a team captain. As a senior he was the Wildcats' leading scorer and topped the Pennsylvania district scoring charts. Severance, who served as Villanova's head coach from 1936-61, later included him as one of his five selections for his "All-Era" team along with, among others, Paul Arizin.

In the years following his graduation, Walters became part of the fabric of Villanova basketball. He served as an assistant coach in Severance's final season of 1960-61 and was a television analyst on Villanova football and basketball games alongside such notables as Al Melzer and Bill Campbell during the 1960s. Later, he was a member of the university's Board of Trustees from 1973-82. He was inducted into the Villanova Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.

His friendships spanned the last 60 years of Villanova athletics and included close ties to former coaches Severance, Jack Kraft, Rollie Massimino and Steve Lappas as well as Wright.

Walters is survived by eight children, including Ruth Sullivan (Joseph); Amelia W. Lawlor (Robert); Margaret M. Walters; Elizabeth W. Cronin (Charles); John J. Walters; Edmond Walters (Kristine); Theodore J. Walters (Carolyn); and Maria W. Barrett (William). He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth, who died on Sept. 30, and sons Joseph E. Walters III - who played basketball at Villanova from 1968-70 - and James A. Walters. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and three great-granchildren.

A viewing will be held on Friday, Oct. 10, at 9 a.m. in the St. Thomas of Villanova chapel followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m.