I met Walt at my first ASA conference--at Stanford in (about) 1973. We became much better acquainted after 1978 when Sandia Labs transferred me to Livermore, and Walt was one of the leaders of the SF Bay chapter. In a short period he became a mentor for me, tutoring me in a broad range of subject areas including living more simply, peacemaking, evolutionary biology, and other aspects of the many facets of the encounter between science and faith. Although I lived out of the area for nine of the ensuing years until 2002, Walt's shadow passed by frequently via the ASA Newsletter, annual conferences, and sharing articles that we discovered. When I retired and returned to NorCal in 2002, Walt was still writing and speaking. It was great to live close to Walt and Ginny again, because we were able to meet at ASA special events and other gatherings. Thank you, Walt, for mentoring me. I wish I had been a better student.

Tribute to Walt Hearn by Vicki Best - May 8, 2017

I had the privilege of attending Walter Hearn’s memorial service on Sunday, April 23 at 2:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. It was a joy and honor to be there with Ginny, Walt’s wife, and Christine, Walt’s daughter, as well as his family and many friends, both personally and on behalf of the ASA.

Here is the tribute that I presented at the memorial service on that very special day.

Walt Hearn had a very long-standing relationship with the American Scientific Affiliation; he was a faithful, committed and active member and donor for 66 years.

I had the opportunity to first meet Walt and his lovely wife Ginny two years ago when Randy Isaac, ASA Executive Director Emeritus, and I had the pleasure of attending a special gathering of several faithful ASA members including the Swearengens, the Olsons and the Irvines at the Hearn’s home (called the Troll House) in Berkeley. It was a wonderful afternoon of fellowshipping, catching up on life, reminiscing about past ASA experiences, and discussing the current ASA initiatives and news. As the unknown newcomer, I immediately felt warmly welcomed and included and thought to myself, “If these people are any indication of what ASA members are like, this is an organization that I want to be involved with and where I’d like to invest my time.” It was a memorable day that will forever be etched in my mind.

In the wake of that first meeting, I have since visited them in their home several times and have communicated regularly with Walt via email. He and Ginny are salt-of-the-earth kind of people, blessed with the gift of hospitality, encouragement and engagement—knowing how to engage people in the ASA and Christian community—which is a rare gift. In addition, Walt is witty, insightful, and humorous and a glorious eccentric whom I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know. He has provided me with large measures of encouragement as I have fairly quickly taken on more responsibility and gotten engaged on a deeper level with the ASA.

I’ll never forget another visit to the Troll House when Walt and Ginny took me to downtown Berkeley to pick up burritos for lunch. We hopped into his 1977 Toyota Corolla and he adeptly navigated the Berkeley hills with a stick shift like it was second nature. He was 90 years young, and it was very impressive to me. We then proceeded to enjoy lunch in their kitchen as they took the time to get to know me and I learned of their professional and personal backgrounds including their extensive ASA involvement. 

It was a deep honor to have Walt, escorted by his daughter Christine, with us this past summer at our 75th anniversary annual meeting at Azusa Pacific University. Traveling to southern California from Berkeley at the age of 90 years old was no small thing particularly in light of the fact that he was recovering from a recent battle with cancer. In fact, Ginny sent me an email a few weeks before the annual meeting saying she was worried about his stamina and energy level. I assured her that I (and the other ASA staff members) would take good care of him. In addition to giving his personal testimony at the anniversary dinner, he participated in the VIP (40+ year members) panel and was honored at a special symposium and in the Festschrift issue of God and Nature.

I had the honor of introducing Walt at the anniversary dinner and part of my introduction included the following:

Last January, while visiting Colorado State University, I came across a unique plaque on the wall in the student union that had the word “stalwart” written on it along with the definition. And the definition of stalwart is this: “A loyal, reliable, and hardworking supporter or participant of an organization or team.”

And the synonyms of stalwart listed in the dictionary are the following: staunch, loyal, faithful, committed, devoted, dedicated, dependable, reliable, steady, constant, trusty, hard-working, steadfast, redoubtable, unwavering.

I immediately thought of Walt Hearn when I saw that plaque and took a photo of it and later sent it to him. Walt and Ginny Hearn (you see, they are a package deal and a true team) emulate the true meaning of stalwart. And you have been an ASA stalwart for 65 or more years and for that, we are truly grateful.

Walt then came up on stage to share his ASA personal testimony and the first words out of his mouth were “What kind of a wart did she just call me?” His uncanny sense of humor sent the whole audience into laughter and that was how he launched into his story.

In the wake of the APU meeting, we were also blessed to have both Ginny and Walt in attendance at our third 75^th anniversary celebration here at this church back in November. The dessert reception was another special evening and the room was filled with ASA members from around the Bay area. In fact, Walt introduced me on this night, and I walked them to their door at the Troll House after the event to say goodbye. I will never forget that evening as it was the last time that I saw him.

But one of the things I will remember the most about Walt was his wonderful gift of encouragement. Over the last few years as I’ve communicated with him regularly, he regularly provided generous accolades, votes of confidence and positive words of support—customarily with humor incorporated in—to me and to my colleagues in the ASA home office. He routinely called us the Topsfield Toilers! We could always count on a warm and welcoming note to the whole staff that would accompany his faithful quarterly donation check.

The last communication we received from him was on January 12, 2017, in the wake of the staff Christmas photo/card that we had sent to the ASA members. In his lengthy and thoughtful email, he went person by person down the list, in his intelligent, witty way and cleverly provided words of wisdom, advice and encouragement to each and every one of us. It was Hannah the Ace, Vicki the Best, Leslie the Boss, Sharon the Mysterious One, Jack the Ripper, Randy the Tall One and Lyn the Guardian of the English Language. His notes were always so clever, humorous, positive, inspirational, encouraging and brilliantly written and I always looked forward to and sincerely appreciated them.

Walt’s long-time, faithful service to the ASA included 25 years as editor of our newsletter; author of the book, Being a Christian in Science; regular contributor to God and Nature magazine; and an ambassador for the ASA and introducing many to the ASA. In addition, he attended many ASA annual meetings, encouraged everyone he met and mentored countless ASA members over the years. As I travel on behalf of ASA around the US, I can’t tell you the number of people that tell me they know Walt Hearn and the impact he had on their lives. He was a real legend in ASA circles!

On behalf of the ASA, we are truly grateful for his many contributions over many years. Walt gave of his time, talent and treasure to the ASA for six and a half decades, nearly as long as the organization has been in existence. His steadfast faithfulness, loyal dedication, unique gift of encouragement and hospitality and unwavering Christ like character were a witness to many people and have been a real inspiration to me.

Walt was an amazing man, lived an incredible life, and had a remarkable testimony. He went home to be with His Lord and Savior on April 11, 2017, and I’m confident that when God welcomed him into His loving arms, His first words were, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

It was an absolutely beautiful service celebrating Walt’s outstanding life. There was a reception after the service and I met and interacted with many of Walt and Ginny’s friends including about 10–12 ASA members. From there, I was invited back to Ginny’s house for a small, intimate gathering of close friends which was very special.  

It meant the world to Ginny and Christine that I came, both personally and in representation of the ASA. It was an amazing day and I’m just grateful to God that He orchestrated the many details (I frantically arrived at the church at exactly 2:32 pm after a long and delayed trip from Boston!) to make it all possible.:)

To state that Walter Hearn had a unique and delightful personality and that he devoted his life to the American Scientific Affiliation and all who grappled with issues of science and faith would be a significant understatement. No one who met him was left unmoved by his humility and his commitment to serve God through his life and his words.

Walt published at least 40 articles and comments in ASA publications besides authoring and editing well over a hundred issues of the ASA newsletter. His regular attendance at the ASA annual meetings and the Bay Area local ASA section provided ample opportunity to meet and talk with him in person. He was an avid evangelist not just for the gospel but for the ASA as well. He wrote many a letter to acquaintances urging them to join the ASA.

When I was a young ASA member, it was Walt’s sense of humor and witty writing in the ASA newsletter that was my first awareness of him. Those writings shaped my impression of him until I was finally able to meet him, shortly after becoming the executive director. Walt was a tremendous resource and advisor to me at that time. He had a wealth of historical memory as well as a sense of strategic direction for the ASA. He could be counted on for honest feedback which was always constructive, whether positive or a gentle admonition. His focus on words and phrases was legendary and he seldom missed pointing out an editorial gaffe.

Many peers marveled at the way in which he could walk away from a budding academic career in biochemistry to live a life of service in the field of science and faith. But it was his life that demonstrated the importance of living the Christian life in a way that integrates one’s faith and vocation. He wrote about it in his book, Being a Christian in Science, published by InterVarsity Press, donating all receipts to the ASA. His frequent lectures spelled out the importance of living a life that demonstrates Christ’s love in all respects.

In the December 2005 issue of Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, Walt wrote a thoughtful piece of remembrance of one of the ASA founders, F. Alton Everest. A photo of Walt presenting a plaque of appreciation to Alton is shown below. No one can match Walt’s eloquence and he himself will continue to share his thoughts with us in the article he wrote in advance for publication in the ASA journal God & Nature. He was a major shaping force behind that journal and guided the editor, Emily Ruppel, through the challenges of starting a new publication.

Walt’s wit and words will always be with us, recorded for us and for posterity. His life was one of service and we are all inspired to follow his example.