The NIU music department is mourning the loss of internationally known pianist and beloved piano professor Donald Walker.

Walker died Thursday as a result of a re-occurrence of melanoma, a type of cancer. He spent his final hours amongst his family in Maryland, listening to the music of Giacomo Puccini and the poetry of ee cummings.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Walker was a full-time NIU piano professor from 1967 to 1997. He remained a part-time professor until spring 2002.

“He was respected on an international level, and as a person and teacher,” said Paul Bauer, NIU music department director. “He attracted many students from around the world.”

Graduate piano student Jessica Schroeder was one of Walker’s students last year.

“He was a very warm and caring man,” she said. “He was an amazing piano player, and a very wonderful teacher. I’m very sad that he passed away.”

Bauer recalled Walker’s sense of humor.

“He had a kind of jovial personality,” Bauer said. “He would always have a joke for his colleagues. He’d like to pull you aside in the hall and tell a joke.”

Walker regularly offered solo performances at NIU and performed with NIU’s Philharmonic and Vermeer Quartet.

Piano professor Bill Goldenberg knew Walker for about 23 years.

“Everybody here looked forward to his performances,” he said. “I loved his beautiful, melodic pieces. He was very expressive in his music. I was always very moved emotionally in his playing.”

Piano professor Bill Koehler recalled Walker’s passion.

“He had a terrific sense of humor,” Koehler said. “He had passion about music that was really contagious. You could hear that in the performance and his students’ performances.”

He was a great model for everyone, Koehler added.

“He will be sincerely missed for his music, his great warmth, his sense of humor and his real dedication to the school of music.”