Walter L. Winfree, Jr. died on July 26. He was 85.

Walter (Sonny) Winfree was born on November 7, 1934, the second of four children born to Walter, Sr., a first responder with the New York city ambulance corps and Minnie (née Hollis), a critical care nurse at Queens Hospital.

A product of New York city public schools, Walter was a gifted student and multi-sport athlete ultimately graduating from the elite Brooklyn Technical High School. During this era, his legend as a track athlete specializing in the 110-yard and 220-yard hurdles began opening doors for collegiate opportunities.

His track and field renown was underscored by his prowess on the gridiron as a tailback and flanker for the Corona Condors Football Club. This was during the heyday of New York city club sports when club teams generated more interest and passion than professional teams. The Condors were a legendary multi-racial team noted for undefeated seasons and filling bleachers wherever they played.

Athletics and academics presented Walter with the opportunity to attend the University of Michigan as a track and field athlete and invitee to the hallowed Wolverine Football team in 1952. He then transferred back to his beloved New York city where he attended City College, ultimately completing his collegiate career at Seton Hall University in 1956 and receiving a diploma in accounting.

A stint in the U.S. army followed and he was stationed at the Fort Huachuca Military Intelligence installation near Sierra Vista, Ariz. To the wonderment of his fellow G.I.s, Walter often challenged base leadership to champion the rights of Black and Hispanic soldiers in the neighboring community, especially since federal dollars and resources supported what would have otherwise have been a backwoods mining camp.

Upon his honorable discharge from the army around 1960, Walter returned to New York city to continue his lifelong romance with Ruth (Tootie) Woods of Newark, N.J., whom he ultimately married in 1962.

Walter and Ruth had been introduced by lifelong friends, Leander and Ken Brown of Maplewood, N.J. Ken was Walter’s Seton Hall roommate and Leander was Ruth’s Delta Sigma Theta line sister. Walter and Ruth enjoyed summer vacations on Martha’s Vineyard, with the Brown family, for 54 years.

Walter built a career as a tax accountant (ultimately becoming a fixture in the Hollis, Queens business community affectionately known as “H&R Black”), business executive and entrepreneur. He and Ruth raised two sons, Glenn and Gregory, first in Queens Village before moving to their home of 46 years in Roosevelt, N.Y.

Walter and Ruth moved to a wonderful elder community in Pompton Plains in March 2020, when Walter’s health began to decline. Walter died peacefully while attempting to regain his strength at a health facility in Wayne, N.J., on July 26. Walter was surrounded by love and family during his battle before being called home as a faithful servant.

Walter is preceded in death by his parents, Minnie and Walter, Sr., and by his older brother, Raymond.

He is survived by Ruth, his wife of 58 years; his two sons and their wives, Glenn (and Vera) and Gregory (and Frances); sisters, Marion Winfree Phillips (and Herb) and Barbara Winfree; sister-in-law Mary Deane and her family; grandson, niece, nephew goddaughters and a legion of other family and friends.

This obituary would be remiss without a special acknowledgment of Steve (Toonkie) DePass – “America’s Singing Poet” – whose friendship and professional affiliation with Walter dates back to their days as kids in Corona, Queens, and teammates on the Condors. Toonkie’s prose captures Walter’s essence best: “Walter, Walter, Rock of Gibraltar, never a stumble, never a falter.”

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to 100 Black Men of America, Inc. A private memorial service on  Nantucket will be held on Thursday, August 27 at 5:30 p.m. The repass is scheduled at the family home immediately following the services.