after 36 years at SUNY New Paltz. A wonderful ride!
I am enjoying life and keeping connected with
interesting persons plus meaningful and fun activities.
Florida 2010 photo of me without glasses!
Katie and Tory Walley! (at altar after I presented them to the congregation)
Last updated on May 24, 2010 
With the family: son Tory and Kate, Eric and daughter Evonne ...........
I work some Saturdays with Habitat for Humanity.
I'm also taking a class at the College in New Paltz ~
"Musical Theatre Singing Ensemble" with 75 students
and a few community folks like myself. We have a concert
at the end of each semester
in McKenna Theatre at the College (free).
This year I again flew to Florida to see a couple NY Mets
spring training games. I spent time again at Robert's house
in Florida ~ he, Jack (from Vermont) and I ~ all retired campus pastors
went to St. Simon's Island off the Georgia coast for a theological conference.
Am still serving parttime as Pastor
at St. Paul's Lutheran in West Camp. And of course
I'm swing dancing bigtime (Hudson Valley, Albany, NYC
and venues in other places).
That's why I prefer the
term re-wired or re-fired
rather than retired!
asked me to go with them over spring break 2008 to
New Orleans. It was a great time. We worked
on a new build in the Ninth Ward where
the flooding was most severe. All 16 of us
flew (they raised the money). We also planted
cord grass in a wetlands bayou to help reclaim
the coastline as a buffer against storm surges.
Musicians Village is about 75 Habitat homes all in pretty pastels
built by local music performers under the leadership of
Harry Connick, Jr., and Wynton Marsalis.
We worked hard in the hot NOLA sun. After hours I got to
see and hear Kermit Ruffins, the famous jazz trumpeter,
in the French Quarter one night (and shook his hand)!
New Orleans is one cool (hot) town!
Went down to New Orleans alone spring 2010
to work with NOLA Habitat for Humanity
plus enjoyed the second weekend of Jazz Fest!
you were not aware, my wife Carole died
in Vassar Hospital after six months of illness.
She had ovarian cancer.
She is in God's limitless realm now
with a new body, mind and spirit.
We all miss and love her very much.
A beautiful Memorial Service of Worship
was held on Jan. 20th, 2003,
at Redeemer Lutheran
in New Paltz, our home church.
Our student Peer Ministry Team
performed a sacred dance and song
in her honor and to the glory of God.
Over 250 people attended.
Our family made a significant gift
to Christ Episcopal Church, Poughkeepsie,
to create and build a playground in her honor:
The Carole Ann Walley Memorial Playground.
It will serve the church's innercity neighborhood
and be a lasting legacy to Carole's love for children
as a teacher, mother, and child of God.
Inscribed on a lovely plaque by a bench are the words,
"I play in your world, O God, like a happy child."
Installation of the playground took place June 4-5-6, 2005,
and many in the community came out to help and to celebrate.
Click on this website link to see and learn more about the playground:
Christ Church Playground
my family and I lived at the
Student Christian Center
across from the College
at 62 Plattekill Avenue in New Paltz, NY.
The Center was our residence as well as
a gathering place for students.
I still reside in New Paltz, just
a short walk from the College. It's a
lovely brick home Carole and I bought
back in 1982 and rented to faculty/staff.
I had the floors refinished, new windows
installed, walls repainted. Soon I am having
the basement finished as a rec room.
The Student Christian Center is
an ecumenical campus ministry
supported by four denominations.
The SCC continues with a parttime
campus pastor, The Rev. Ralph Merante.
He is a Presbyterian serving a Methodist
congregation halftime in nearby Kingston.
for more on our churches and ministry.
Now I'd like to introduce you
to each Walley family member.
We were happily married for 37 years.
During leisure time, we enjoyed concerts, museums and plays
plus we went hiking, biking, canoeing and cross-country skiing.
She liked traveling to interesting places in conjunction with
my campus ministry conferences and family vacations.
That's Carole on Cape Cod - summer 2002
on July 30th when we were camping there.
Everyone loved her great smile!
from Ohio University with a B.A. in Social Work,
a minor in Psychology and a certificate in Women's Studies.
a Care Management Organization in Newark, New Jersey.
She worked with families who have children
with special emotional and behavioral needs.
Before PCE, she worked at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office
as a Social Worker, working with victims of crime.
She appreciated being part of the criminal justice system
and utilizing her skills she obtained in Athens, Ohio.
There, she encountered memorable experiences at the
Athens County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, My Sister's Place,
a Domestic Violence shelter, and as a Sexual Assualt Advocate.
Evonne received her Master's degree in Social Work
on May 25th, 2004, at Fordham's Lincoln Center Campus.
We had a big celebration of Evonne's and Tory's graduations
at Mohonk Mountain House on Memorial Day Weekend, 2004.
Evonne has recently received her certification in
Family and Consumer Science Education from
Queens College, NYC. She is currently teaching
Junior High School Home and Career Skills in the Hudson Valley.
Eric is also a graduate of Ohio University
with a major in environmental biology.
He works as a Water Treatment Engineer for Chem-Aqua
in New York City. Prior to this he was Operations Manager
for an environmental consulting firm, Worldwide Water, in NYC.
His projects include improving water quality, health and safety,
and implementing conservation technology in urban settings.
Eric is also preparing to become a secondary teacher in science
and is taking courses at the University of Staten Island.
His leisure life includes trips to Albany weekly for soccer league games.
We were all thrilled when
Evonne and Eric were engaged September 3, 2006!
Evonne and Eric with the Verrazano Bridge in the background
They had a wonderful Fall wedding on October 4, 2008,
in Mohonk Mountain House Gardens, New Paltz,
with the reception afterward at Mohonk also.
The photo on the left is the three of us
at the wedding rehearsal dinner in the Locust Tree Inn.
The photo on the right is Evonne and Eric, the new bride and groom,
with Kate, maid of honor, and Tory, best man, along with Dad
just after the wedding in the Mohonk Gardens.
The picture on the left is Evonne and Eric Mowry
soon after their wedding service
with the Mohonk Gardens in full fall bloom!
The picture on the right is the new couple
about to take a carriage ride on Mohonk trails!
What an amazing day and weekend with a
special Sunday brunch for all the wedding guests
hosted by Cynthia Lee, Evonne's aunt and godmother, in Highland.
They enjoyed traveling through Maine on their honeymoon.
That's Evonne's and Eric's dog, Tate, on the left
and Maya, Kate's (and Tory's) dog on the right
his Master's degree in the Teaching of Literacy from Columbia University.
He taught fourth grade 2006-07 in Washingtonville and was invited
to teach third grade beginning Fall 2007 (his first full position).
He is currently teaching 4th grade there and has tenure now!
Tory completed his undergraduate education in Spring 2004
at SUNY Cortland with a major in Elementary Education
and an Antropology minor.
Tory volunteered as a Tutor after classes at his College.
Spring semester '04 he did student teaching in Syracuse.
He achieved a 3.6 cumulative average and was on the Dean's list.
In his Senior year he again received the Excellence in Understanding
Tory also received the Senior Award for Academic Excellence
from the Early/Childhood Education Dept. of his College,
the Outstanding Student Leader Award from SUNY Cortland's Student Affairs,
the Cortland Urban Recruitment Education (C.U.R.E.) Award
and the distinguished SUNY Chancellor's Award in Albany.
On May 15, 2004, Tory graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Cortland
with a B.S. in Childhood Education
and NYS certification to teach grades 1-6.
The previous summer Tory worked in "Summer in the City,"
assisting and teaching children in a classroom in Brooklyn
for six weeks. He is continuing his urban teaching interests.
Tory graduated in 2000 from New Paltz High School.
He received the Regents high school diploma
and a special award for community service from his teachers.
He played on the NPHS varsity tennis team, jv soccer team,
and coached a 4th grade boys basketball team.
Tory enjoys surfing and downhill skiing
and spending time with Kate in New Paltz.
Kate graduated from SUNY Oswego in December 2005
with a major in Computer Science and a 3.7 cumulative average.
She is currently employed by IBM in Poughkeepsie.
Tory played trumpet in high school
marching band, symphonic band and jazz band.
He developed his own lawn and snow business,
"Neighborhood's Best." Summer 2003 he again served as
Director of Christ Episcopal Church's Summer Camp
in Poughkeepsie working with inner city youth.
Tory also worked on
Habitat for Humanity houses
in many places with our Campus Chapter.
Tory is currently a 4th grade teacher
in the Washingtonville School District
in Orange County, NY. He began in 2007.
Kate continues her work at IBM in the
system text division. She completed a
project with the IBM Austin division.
Kate and Tory like to travel; the two
explored Vermont in fall 2007
and Jamaica in spring 2008.
They visited St. Lucia after Christmas 2009.
Their big news was their 2008 engagement followed by their
wedding on Thurs., July 2, 2009,
at Christ Episcopal Church, Poughkeepsie ~ with the
reception at the Grandview overlooking the Hudson River nearby!
I shared in the officiating of their wedding.
Fall photos, 2008, of Tory and Kate
My favorite summer place is Cape Cod.
I'm on a sand dune overlooking the Atlantic ocean.
On campus I was called Pastor Paul. Still am!
I also served as Advisor for our
Habitat
Campus Chapter
while working on houses with the students.
Our SCC retreats were special to me as well.
Swing dancing is my latest enjoyment - it's great fun!
This photo was taken at Dance Flurry 2008 in Saratoga Springs!
Snapped in 2009 at an Albany swing dance ~
with one of my many dance friends!
Our campus newspaper did an article on me: "Swingin' Pastor"
and my last Peer Ministry Team gave me a sweatshirt with that on it!
I also like performing in musicals with our community theatre.
I performed as "The Reverend Crisparkle" in the Broadway hit,
The Mystery of Edwin Drood and in a musical review,
That Fabulous Century: Music of the Past 100 Years.
I enjoy performing in cabarets and singing solos at church.
I got my love of music from my Mom and Dad.
He played saxophone and Mom enjoyed singing & playing piano.
Early on I heard those vibes and danced to the beat.
Dad played in dance bands for fun - and was a banker.
Mom worked as a secretary and sang in our church choir.
I have two sisters, both married: Dorice, in South Carolina,
and Pam, in California.
(The flower, below, is a photo from her).
where we enjoyed tent camping and whale watching.
Their great Rail Trail lets you bicycle by the sea.
You really should try it!
She lived 15 years. Her real name was Jenet,
after one of our former student child care helpers.
She was a special part of the family, too!
Guess my social nature is showing.
I found this a useful tool in working with students and faculty.
On Sundays I continue serving as part-time Pastor
at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church in West Camp -
the oldest church in the Metro Synod of the ELCA.
We celebrate the 300th anniversary of our founding on October 17, 2010!
Here I'm serving at the altar of St. Paul's for Communion worship.
I began my service there way back in 1994.
The church is 4 miles north of Saugerties on 9W.
Worship is at 10:30 a.m. (July and August - 9:30 a.m.) ~ visitors are most welcome!
See our church's website for more:
www.stpaulswestcamp.com
On July 5th, 2008, at 10 a.m., our church was the site
of the Ordination of Paul Wayne Benjamin to the ministry
of the ELCA. Paul was one of the first Peer Ministers in
the Student Christian Center ecumenical campus ministry
at SUNY New Paltz when I was Campus Pastor there.
Many friends filled our church for this special service!
Paul Benjamin and me at Hoffman House, Kingston, New York,
enjoying a delicious meal by the fire and renewing our friendship
in the winter of 2008 during Paul's last semester as a seminarian
at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
New Pastor Paul Wayne Benjamin with me
in sanctuary of St. Paul's, West Camp, after Ordination Service
presided over by Bishop John H.K. Schreiber of Southeast Michigan Synod ~
where Paul is now serving a Call to St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, Blissfield, MI
Our church sent a student to the ELCA Youth Gathering ~ Jesus, Justice, Jazz ~
July 22-26, 2009, in New Orleans!
35,000+ young people and adults gathered
to learn and play and help in the Gulf Coast recovery!
I also relish national denominational, ecumenical and interfaith gatherings,
where there are great celebrations of the oneness we share in Christ as God's people.
Recently I decided, along with our church, to purchase a pair of processional torches
for liturgical use in special worship services ~ they are given in memory of Carole
and are lit during the Easter season of light and major church festivals.
Evonne and Tory carrying the processional torches
at the Dedication on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010
I decided to step down as SCC campus pastor June 30, 2007.
I prefer the word re-wire or re-fire!
I am still living in the community of New Paltz
and am now at 14 Howard Street (visitors welcome!)
plus enjoying my summer condo on Cape Cod.
I continue parttime as church pastor in West Camp.
The College made a video of my Retirement Gala
held on May 9th, 2007, in the SUB ~ click to view it!
You may enlarge the video frame by right-clicking on it
after it begins ~ then hit Zoom and full screen.
God's blessings, my good wishes!
The College gifted me with my e-mail address for life!
May God's love and peace be with you