REMEMBERING WALT
Memories from employees, associates, and other friends
“Walt inspired so many of us—not only through Rough Notes, but through his immense contributions of time, talent, and treasure to countless nonprofits in his community and beyond.”
—Claudia McClain, Retired Founder, McClain Insurance Services, the 2014 Rough Notes Agency of the Year
News of Walt Gdowski’s passing brought dozens of Facebook comments from fellow Ewing (N.J.) High School alums about their Class of ’64 classmate. Comments like, “He was a great guy,” “Just an overall gentle giant of a great guy,” “Walt was such a sweet man,” and “I remember him as a gentle, quiet guy in high school.”
No one was wrong.
“[Walt] loved keeping the traditions of a 140-plus year company going. He was passionate about sharing Rough Notes … products with new generations of young agents, so that they would be successful and well informed.”
—Nancy Lynch, Retired Sales Service & Division Trainer, The Rough Notes Company
But there was another side of Walt that didn’t make that comment section: the guy who knew few boundaries and was willing to test the limits (and we checked the statute of limitations in New Jersey before publishing this) when it came to having fun. At least in his youthful days.
Perhaps no night exemplifies this more than one during a weekend adventure at the Jersey Shore. Seems he and some buddies were out cruising in Seaside Heights and happened across a stop sign that was not anchored. Yes, to teenage boys, “unanchored” is simply another word for “asking to be taken.”
So if you have a vision of a stop sign being dragged alongside a convertible filled with laughing boys, leaving a trail of sparks in its path, you wouldn’t be wrong. Now on said weekend, a large dredging crane was positioned near the beach—pausing from its daily rigors. The stationery crane looked incomplete against the night sky. And who better to solve that than a group of teenage boys?
Fast forward less than an hour and, amid uncontrollable laughter from the youthful crew, an unnamed strong and perhaps mischievous boy lugged the unanchored octagon up the crane, mounting it in a position where it alone would get the first glimpse of the next morning’s sunrise. Laughter returned the next morning when the boys saw their handiwork in the light of day.
“[Walt] was uncommon, because he supported the insurance community, both business entities and individuals alike, especially those new to the business—without ever asking for anything in return.”
—Dr. William T. “Doc” Hold, Chairman Emeritus, Risk & Insurance Education Alliance
Now, before we get law enforcement involved, this may be an urban legend. A quick AI search says, “I couldn’t find any record of a stop sign being placed atop a crane in Seaside Heights. It’s definitely an unusual image to picture—maybe something from a quirky art installation or a,” wait for it, “temporary stunt?” Hmmm.
A couple of years later, Walt was at home, cutting the grass with his dad, and they disturbed a hive of bees. Both were on the receiving end of the bees’ displeasure, but Walt ended up with a decent number of stings on his foot—which caused it to swell considerably. Sounds like a good excuse to get a couple of days’ rest, right? Not for Walt. He had a semi-pro football game in Atlantic City that night. And in an early display of his tenacity and creative problem-solving skills, Walt found a way to play that game—in two different sized shoes.
Youthful stories could probably make for a sizeable tribute. But the traits shared in these stories—willingness to test the limits, tenacity, and creativity—continued to serve Walt well throughout his life.
Of course, most of our readers remember Walt from his days at Rough Notes. And those memories—some shared in large gatherings and others more personal but equally noteworthy—continued themes already mentioned and added others.
CARING LEADER
For instance, one Rough Notes employee recalls the kindness and concern that were hallmarks of Walt and his wife, Sharon: “I remember I hadn’t been with the company very long, about four years, when I had my first daughter. Walt and Sharon sent a card with flowers and balloons to the hospital. They were from Walt and Sharon personally, not Rough Notes. I have never forgotten that (and that was 39 years ago, LOL).”
Chris Cook also recalls Walt’s generosity when it came to his family. “I married a farmer’s daughter, and my father-in-law went on home hospice during spring planting, so other family members were busy working in the fields. Walt made sure I had the time off needed to be out of town to help out. I was only in my second year with the company and easily took more PTO than I was assigned that calendar year.
“When my son was around two, he started various therapies (physical, feeding, etc.) and had a handful of appointments every month. Again, the consistent time off needed wasn’t a concern for Walt. He appreciated his team and let us know.”
Elisabeth Boone echoes the sentiments. “What comes to mind is Walt’s kindness and understanding when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2017. He never failed to ask me how I was doing, and he made sure I was paid in full, even when I was unable to fulfill the duties I signed on for in 2000. Truly he was a giant of a man, literally and figuratively, and I miss him painfully.”
Adds Bruce Hicks, “One day Walt came into my office near the end of the day to get a question answered. After he said, ‘I was glad I caught you,’ I laughingly replied that he was lucky I came in at all! Then I mentioned the day happened to be my 25th anniversary working for him.
“He gave me a nice compliment and a thanks. The next morning, he walked in again. He told me how much he appreciated me and handed me what turned out to be a very generous gift card to a higher tier restaurant.
“I will always remember his kind gesture and thoughtfulness.”
Another employee, Nancy Lynch, remembers “being a little intimidated by Walt when I first went to work at Rough Notes. He was an imposing figure—almost a giant—and he seemed to be a serious individual. As the years went on, I realized what a kind and generous man he was.
“He loved keeping the traditions of a 140-plus year company going. He was passionate about sharing Rough Notes educational products with new generations of young agents, so that they would be successful and well informed.
“While Walt never complained to any of us when he was not feeling well, he would be the first to offer his condolences when we lost loved ones. Walt, you will truly be missed. Rest in peace.”
Fellow employee Renate Luciani, wrote, “As I think of Walt, I am reminded of a strong oak tree—tall, with expansive branches and wise.
“Unfortunately, I only knew Walt for a brief year and had just a few conversations with him. However, those interactions showed me that he was a kind and generous man.
“He was highly regarded, both across the country and throughout the insurance industry. May peace be with you, Walt. You will be remembered.”
Marc Basis remembers, “Walt Gdowski was a remarkable leader who had a profound impact on both my career and my life.
“He was more than just a boss—Walt was a mentor, a steadfast supporter, and someone who truly believed in the work we were doing. His passion for the insurance industry and his unwavering commitment to excellence inspired a deep sense of purpose and optimism in those around him.
“Walt gave me the freedom to grow, the confidence to lead, and he always made sure I knew my efforts were valued.
“His legacy will live on through the industry leaders he built close relationships with and the countless individuals he mentored—me included. He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to work with him.”
Team members not on the official employee payroll felt that same sense of family. Veteran journalist Len Strazewski recalls, “I have freelanced for a lot of publications but only Rough Notes, under Walt’s leadership, treated his collection of writers and readers like a family.
“He paid writer fees faster than anyone, invited freelancers to planning meetings and treated everyone like relatives. As he introduced me to the rest of the meeting attendees every year, he ended with ‘and of course he’s Polish,’ like that made me a special part of the Rough Notes family. And it did.”
Fellow freelancer Alice Roettger recalls, “It was time for the annual Rough Notes Christmas luncheon. I, as a freelance editorial assistant, proofer/editor and sometimes writer had been included for years. This particular year, I hesitantly approached Walt to explain that there was no way I could make it. ‘I have to take my husband to rehab, and there’s no way I can get him home and go right back north in time for the lunch,’ I started to explain.
“Before I got the last words out, Walt interrupted me with, ‘Bring him.’ There was no question; the big guy had spoken. But that wasn’t the end of it. The next year, Dick was invited again, no questions asked. He was an invited guest until his eventual death. Even then, Walt’s generosity continued, with a Mass card in Dick’s name.
“All of this done spontaneously and quietly. So Waltish.”
Consultant and past columnist Troy Korsgaden adds in a video tribute, from the moment he met Walt, “he was encouraging. … [T]he biggest thing that Walt did for me personally was to give me opportunity, opportunity to see a bigger picture, to influence others from around our industry. He gave me an opportunity to write—a platform, if you will—and he lit a fire under me, a fire that’s still burning today … .”
“[T]he trail he blazed and the legacy he leaves behind will live on indefinitely. Every independent insurance agent owes a massive shout-out and a debt of gratitude to Walt and the infinite opportunities he left us all.”
—Mike Stromsoe, Founder, Unstoppable Profit Producer
LARGER-THAN-LIFE ASSOCIATE
While employees enjoyed daily time with Walt, others engaged him often through industry-wide events—from boardroom interactions to conference-based social gatherings to impromptu shoot-the-breeze sessions, in person or by phone.
Take Roger Sitkins, the CEO of Sitkins, Inc., for instance. He recalls, “There are so many funny memories with Walt, most of which you won’t put in print!” Note: Truer words have not been written.
“Walt earned the nickname Snoopy Gdowski when he started flying. His first plane was the Stearman biplane. When he told me about it and sent me pictures, I said I thought it was unusual for this type of airplane to be your first plane to learn to fly. His response was, ‘Yeah, that’s what the flight school said, but they were happy to take my money!’
“I challenged Walt to not mess this up, as he would hurt our Polish heritage. (Sitkins was originally Sitkiewicz). From that conversation forward, I always referred to him as the Peanuts character Snoopy, the World War I Flying Ace sitting atop his doghouse and fighting with his archenemy, the Red Baron.”
Roger recalls being a speaker at a national trade convention held in New York City a few years after 9/11. “Rudy Giuliani was the keynote speaker, and I was on stage just before him. Meeting him in the Green Room was quite an honor.” That evening, Walt and his wife, Sharon, joined Roger and his wife, Stephanie, in the lobby bar after dinner.
“A group of association dignitaries appeared from their dinner in tuxedos, and several had consumed more than their share of cocktails. Our wives were sitting off to the side on a couch talking, as they were good friends. The two Polish guys, Walt and Roger, were at the bar, and yes, we had consumed ‘a few’ cocktails ourselves.
“Picture the comic character Foster Brooks, the lovable drunk at nightclubs. One of the association leaders was a dead ringer for Foster and came up to us and said, ‘Hey, hey, hey! Someone said you two guys are with Brown & Brown.’ I said, ‘Nope, we’re with Polack and Polack.’
“He didn’t skip a beat and then said, ‘Let me tell you something, let me tell you something.’ Walt said, ‘OK, well say it.’ His response: ‘Let me tell you something; I sold my agency to (a national broker, name withheld here), and you know what? You know what?’ I said, ‘What?’ His response, ‘They buy you with your own money!’
“Walt said, ‘How long did it take you to figure that out Sparky?’ Our new friend Foster mumbled something about his money and walked away. Maybe you had to be there, but Walt and I laughed about that for years.”
Dr. William T. “Doc” Hold, chairman emeritus of the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance and co-founder of Own Your Potential, describes Walt as an “uncommon man who made a difference. He was uncommon because he supported the insurance community, both business entities and individuals alike, especially those new to the business—without ever asking for anything in return.
“Throughout his career he made real and lasting contributions to the lives and businesses of a great many people. How do I know? Because I am one of those people and The National Alliance (Risk & Insurance Education Alliance) is one of those businesses.”
Doc remembers how his relationship with Walt began. “It was not good!” he says. “Walt visited our offices in Austin, Texas, as part of a Rough Notes business trip. My part in our discussions was to complain at length that Rough Notes articles did not provide any information about the professional designations held by the individuals featured in the articles.
“We covered him up with actual examples. He patiently explained the reasons for the omissions and then added, ‘Well, Doc, a lot of this is your fault.’ As our conversations continued on a ‘path to nowhere,’ we began to discuss industry people we didn’t like. Our lists included the same people. We realized the bond or the relationship created by not liking the same people was stronger than actually liking them. That began the life-changing bonding of ‘Uncle Walt and Doc’.
“Uncle Walt was the real thing. Through Rough Notes, he gave The National Alliance a public voice that other insurance periodicals refused to provide. Rough Notes was the ‘go to’ publication to know more about the National Alliance on a national basis.
“This two-plus-decade relationship grew into joint efforts on publications, advertising, and Walt serving on the Board of Directors of our Research Academy. Rough Notes has become the exclusive publication for our National Outstanding CISR of The Year award. As the years progressed, Walt gave me the opportunity to write a column for Rough Notes magazine and in 2011 honored me as a recipient of the Henry C. Martin Award.”
Doc’s associate, Executive Liaison Bettie Duff, recalls, “I had the privilege of visiting and working with Walt during The National Alliance Board meetings from 2010-2016, when he served on The Academy Board. He was always a gentleman who was interested in what was happening in your life and loved talking about his ‘birds.’
“In 2023, I was talking to him and inquired about his airplanes, at which time he told me he had sold his warbirds. I could tell it had been a hard decision for him to make.
“I am blessed to have had the opportunity to know Walt, a great man who made a difference in many lives throughout his career. He always said how much he appreciated the long-time relationship he had with Doc and The National Alliance team, but we were the ones who were blessed with his friendship. He will always be remembered!”
A FRIEND TO AGENTS
Among the overarching traits that marked Walt during his time at Rough Notes was his passion for the independent agency channel—and the professionals that made it what it is. Peter van Aartijk recalls in a video tribute that Walt was a “friend and a trusted industry colleague. There are many insurance publications competing for advertising dollars. But nobody was a bigger supporter of independent agents than Walt Gdowski.
“Since Aartrijk is an insurance PR firm and we’d pitch articles for our clients all the time,” Peter adds, “he’d always say to me, ‘We’ll publish anything that supports independent agents. Let me know what I can do to help.’ Very simple.”
Peter remembers meeting with Walt many times at conventions like the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association (IMCA), “where he received a well-deserved lifetime achievement award. People loved talking with him. He had a great sense of humor.
“I’ll remember Walt with much love and admiration. He left the independent insurance agency system a better place—and I know his legacy will live on. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Agent Bob Kretzmer adds, “I was lucky enough to meet Walt 30-plus years ago at an insurance industry roundtable at The Rough Notes Company headquarters in Carmel. During one of the breaks, I asked to speak to Walt privately, which we did in his office.
“It was then that I pitched the idea of a national award for community service for agents, brokers, and/or agencies. I told Walt that our industry was receiving lots of bad press, and I thought having a national award for insurance community service would help spread the word about our ‘good’ deeds.
“Walt quizzed me about why I came to him rather than some of the agent associations or insurance companies. I said he was impartial and had the perfect vehicle for recruiting applications for the award: Rough Notes magazine! Walt agreed to totally fund and advertise the new award, as long as I would be the director.
“I found Walt to be a great mentor, very understanding, loyal, kind, and a terrific businessman. Our friendship grew from that early meeting in Carmel over all these years! Walt liked to ‘pull pranks’ on everyone including me … for which I did the same to him over the years. My life has certainly been enriched by having the pleasure of being associated with and a friend of Walt Gdowski. Rest in Peace, my friend!”
Past Rough Notes Agency of the Year principal Claudia McClain writes, “Walt’s insurance career began about a year after mine, in a time when the industry was much slower-paced and more insulated than it is today. For a young agent starting a small scratch personal lines agency, there were few resources. Other local agents guarded their ‘secret sauce,’ and opportunities to learn the path to success were scarce.
“Rough Notes became my lifeline—providing information, agency management tools, professional development and, most importantly, a sense of community. I devoured each issue the moment it arrived on my doorstep, awed by the generosity of agents who were willing to share their stories.”
Claudia, the now-retired founder of McClain Insurance Services, adds, “As my agency grew, I never gave up the treasured ritual of early mornings with Rough Notes and a good cup (or two) of coffee.
“I had the honor of meeting Walt in 2015 at a Rough Notes celebration in Indianapolis. Even then, I felt like a wide-eyed kid who had somehow slipped into a room filled with industry icons I had long admired. Walt had a huge and generous heart; he at once made me feel welcome and appreciated. What a gracious and gentle giant of our industry.
“Walt inspired so many of us—not only through Rough Notes, but through his immense contributions of time, talent, and treasure to countless nonprofits in his community and beyond.
“His creation of the Rough Notes Community Service Award, which recognized agents and brokers for charitable work, set a powerful example. It encouraged other agencies, including ours, to deepen their own community involvement. We may never fully know the ripple effect of this generosity across the country—but we have Walt to thank for setting it in motion.
“May the spirit and example of Walt Gdowski continue to guide us.”
Agency principal Nick SanFilippo, who along with Claudia was a member of the Rough Notes Agency Editorial Advisory Board, recalls a board meeting where he “met Walt and his wife sitting at a high top. I introduced myself and found them both very nice people.
“We spoke about business for a short time and then I asked them what they do as a hobby. Walt said that after dinner he and his wife hop in their airplane and just float around watching the sunset. In response to my surprise, he said, ‘yes, that’s our hobby!’ And his wife smiled and agreed.”
QUIET CHAMPION
Fellow Board member Mike Stromsoe recalls, “Walt’s vision and love for independent insurance agents and flying were well known to all who knew him. More important was the ‘why’ behind Walt’s drive to consistently support everyone he influenced, including independent insurance agents: Walt believed in every one of us. Always.
“When I think of Walt Gdowski, the first thing that comes to mind is Walt was one of the original ‘data pilots,’ bringing 146 years of history and data access to the independent insurance agency channel consistently.
“While Walt is and will always be missed terribly, the trail he blazed and the legacy he leaves behind will live on indefinitely. Every independent insurance agent owes a massive shout-out and a debt of gratitude to Walt and the infinite opportunities he left us all. Thank you, Walt!”
Principal and past cover agent Lew Kachulis adds, “My memory of Walt speaks to his caring, helpful, and positive influence on others. A few years ago, Walt made a mutual introduction that he felt could be mutually beneficial.
“There was no personal gain for Walt in making the introduction, just a genuine caring and concern for helping others. Walt will be missed by many, and may his memory be eternal.”
“Walt has always been the quiet champion of our industry in my mind,” adds Craig Most, whose agency also was an Agency of the Month. “He did and supported so many valuable, non-revenue focused initiatives, and really made a difference by:
- Celebrating charitable work
- Highlighting worthwhile causes, and
- Providing a voice of our industry, not just those with the deepest pockets or most employees.
“I fondly remember many Rough Notes Editorial Board meetings, closing down the bar with Walt and a few others, along with his self-depreciating Polish jokes and joy of flying. Walt was truly an icon!”
COMING UP
This online remembrance posted around what would have been Walt’s 79th birthday—August 3, 2025—is just a part of the tribute. Look for more in the September issue of Rough Notes magazine—in print and online September 1, 2025.
Share your own memories of Walt by emailing them to “RememberingWalt@RoughNotes.com”.
