Giving Back

A THANK YOU NOTE

Judge David Seth Walker and Joan LoBianco Walker

Judge David Walker can recall riding his bicycle around what is now the Stetson Law campus at around the age of 13 or 14. His family had moved to St. Petersburg a couple of years prior. Judge Walker was always close to Stetson Law, having attended Boca Ciega High School, less than a mile from campus. He then went on to Wake Forest University. Joan LoBianco Walker, born and raised in St. Petersburg, also attended Boca Ciega, but the two were not really acquainted. She was two years behind Judge Walker. “We saw each other in the hall, but it was a large high school,” she said.

It wasn’t until he returned home on Easter break of his freshman year that they actually took notice of one another. They began dating that summer. They were married in August 1962, the month before Judge Walker entered Stetson Law. Ultimately, Mrs. Walker followed suit, graduating from Stetson Law in January 1971 and starting her own practice immediately thereafter. That was a momentous month for the Walker household. At the beginning of January, Mr. Walker had been sworn in as a judge. Having been appointed to the bench at age 30, he was the youngest judge in Florida. When I was very young, my mother drilled into me the importance of saying thank you, of writing that thank you note. I think that this is David’s and my thank you note to Stetson. My mother would be proud.

–Mrs. Joan LoBianco Walker, J.D. ’71

Judge Walker served as an active judge for 32 years and then as a senior judge for an additional 13 years. Mrs. Walker’s practice focused on Family Law. She retired approximately four years ago. That said, in talking to the Walkers it seems they are most proud of their three children, Stacy, Jason and Alexandra. While at Stetson Law, Mrs. Walker was a member of the Law Review. Consequently, she is keenly aware of the amount of time it occupies for those involved, especially the Editor in Chief. The Judge David Seth Walker and Joan LoBianco Walker Law Review Award Endowment will encourage and support the Law Review Student who is selected to serve as Editor in Chief.

“It occurred to David and me that if the Editor in Chief had some financial assistance, the temptation to go to work so they could feed themselves, or whatever, would be eliminated and enable him or her to spend more time with the Law Review and, thereby, enhance Stetson’s reputation,” Mrs. Walker said. The Walkers both expressed tremendous thanks for the role Stetson Law played in their lives. “I'm very, very filled with gratitude for what Stetson gave to me. I had a wonderful career and am enjoying retirement now because of Stetson,” Judge Walker said. When asked why they chose to give to Stetson, Mrs. Walker answered, “When I was very young, my mother drilled into me the importance of saying thank you, of writing that thank you note. I think that this is David’s and my thank you note to Stetson. My mother would be proud.”

I’m very, very filled with gratitude for what Stetson gave to me. I had a wonderful career and am enjoying retirement now because of Stetson.

–Judge David Walker, J.D. ’65

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