John Joseph Walters Jr.

John Joseph Walters, Jr., 71, passed away February 5, 2022, after a brief illness. Originally from Manhattan, John grew up in Bradenton, FL where he attended St. Joseph School and Manatee High School. He later lived in Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and finally Maryland.

John spent many of his working years as a motorcycle mechanic or structural steel mechanic, but his lifelong appreciation of theater was rekindled at Johnson City (TN) Community Theater and East Tennessee State University, where he earned a B.A. in General Studies. He finally realized his dream of having a job from which he would never want to retire: working backstage at theaters in the greater Washington D.C. area doing everything from building sets and running a follow-spot to designing a fully-set banquet table that descended from the ceiling and making an actor fly.

He loved to travel, especially on two wheels, and was proud to have operated a motorcycle in all fifty states and much of Canada. Expression of his love of motorcycles ranged from racing motocross as a youth to becoming an instructor for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in later years.

John is survived by Angela, his wife of thirty-seven years; his sister Lisa Polidora (Frank); his stepmother Bette Walters; nephews Jake Griffin, Anthonly Polidora, and Alan Walters; nieces Kara Youngblood, Nicole Polidora, and Gray Walters; and extended family members. He was predeceased by his parents, John Walters Sr. and Doris Hruska, and two brothers, Robert and Billy. He and Angela had no children of their own, but took in two teenaged nephews and a niece.

John wished there to be no viewing or funeral service. A celebration of life will be held at Arena Stage and online on April 4th. Memorial donations may be made to his favorite charities:

Only Make Believe (https://www.onlymakebelieve.org)

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (http://www.broadwaycares.org/).