Gerald (Jerry) Walsh Obituary (1943 - 2022)

Born Feb 06, 1943, Gerald (Jerry) Walsh attended Oak Creek High School in Oak Creek, WI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Gerald (jerry) Walsh.

Graduation Year	Class of 1961
Date of Birth	Feb 06, 1943
Date of Passing	Jun 29, 2022
About	He retired in 2008 from his career as an announcer after 46 years in radio. He worked in 10 radio markets including Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, Richmond, Virginia, Portland, Oregon and Miami, Florida.

Classmate Memories

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Gerald Walsh '61 posted a photo:

Jerry’s career in radio was more work than his listeners suspected, but was also an adventure and opportunity to have fun. His radio persona as Clarke “the snake” Moore was completely opposite of Jerry’s personality. On the air, he was effervescent, a joker and everyone felt like they knew him. His Clarke persona was just a character he played on the radio. Jerry was actually shy, humble and quiet. So when he was requested by a Miami High School to appear at a football rally, he hesitated to accept. His boss convinced him to go, said if Jerry turned down the kids request, it would be rude and dismissive, like he was too big a star to be bothered with a rally. Jerry never was arrogant and never wanted others to perceive him as such, so he went. At the rally, when a cheerleader announced, “Clarke, The Snake Moore,” the kids went crazy! They applauded, stomped their feet and screamed, “Clarke! Clarke! Clarke!” It was so loud, all their enthusiastic noise rev Vikings throughout the gymnasium. Poor shy Jerry was so overwhelmed by their unexpected reaction and thought he would pass out. Finally, the kids quieted and.he spoke (not as shy Jerry but as DJ Clarke Moore) “If your football team is 1/3 as enthusiastic as you are today they will conquer! They will dominate! They will win!!!” The kids erupted in so much noise. The stomped harder than before, yelled louder, “Clarke! Clarke! Clarke!” He thanked them, started to walk out the door, turned to face them and screamed, as loud as humanly possible, “Go Vikings!”. The kids went absolutely nuts and screamed “Clarke” repeatedly. Jerry said he could still hear them screaming Clarke as he drove away. Even after all the adulation and gifts he recieved from South Florida to Cuba and beyond, Jerry always remained humble and grateful for his career in radio.
it wasn’t Jerry Walsh they loved and cheered for. It was his alter ego, Clarke Moore. Knowing that kept him grounded, untouched by conceit or arrogance. To me he was much more than Clarke Moore. He was Jerry Walsh, the absolutely nicest guy I ever knew. I was always proud to be Mrs. Gerald (Jerry) Walsh.

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