Cummings G. Walker
March 22, 1941-June 19, 2014
San Jose, California
Submitted by Catlin Walker Leonard

Cummings -- just a little "snick" of a guy at birth, according to his father -- was born in Palo Alto to John "Jack" Ingraham Walker and Ann Morse Walker in 1941. He was joined two years later by sister Evann. He attended Terman Junior High and Palo Alto High schools, making good friends that he held dear throughout his life. In addition to skipping a grade due to scholastic achievement, his childhood accomplishments included attaining Eagle Scout and becoming a counselor at Camp Oljato.

After high school, he enrolled at UC Berkeley but left during his senior year to travel through Europe with friends. He wrote many letters home to his mother, whom he clearly adored, about his adventures. When he returned, he took a job waiting tables at St. Michael's Alley in Palo Alto, where he met his first wife, Marilyn. They were married in 1964 and had a daughter, Catlin, and son, Justin.

After graduating from Sonoma State in 1966, Cummings played a significant role in San Francisco's 1960s rock-and-roll scene, working with many well-known artists of the time (among them Rick Griffin and Victor Moscoso) through the poster company, Berkeley Bonaparte, which he co-founded, to create the famed rock posters of the era. He also chronicled the time through photographs, home movies and a book, "The Great Poster Trip," while working for CA Magazine as a writer and assistant editor.

He met his second wife, Kate, in 1977, and they had two daughters, Amanda and Christina.

Cummings went on to work for himself as a designer, writer, photographer and creative director, often partnering with talented people whom he loved and respected. He also taught design at San Jose State and the Academy of Art in San Francisco, where he was most recently the head of the Advertising Design department.

In addition to helping many Silicon Valley companies, he used his talents to support the causes he believed in, from the peace movement in the 1960s to California's coastal initiatives -- right up to the end.

Cummings had a quirky sense of humor, enjoyed a good pun, and loved to talk and laugh with both like-minded folks as well as those who challenged his views. He particularly loved history and spent many hours learning about his family lineage, which dates back to the Mayflower.

Spending most of his life in Palo Alto, Woodside, Portola Valley and Half Moon Bay, he enjoyed cooking, gardening and hiking in the woods and along the ocean, often bringing along one of the family dogs that he loved over the years.

He died in San Jose of liver failure at the age of 73, with his children around him. He was predeceased by both parents and his sister. He is survived by his former wives, son, three daughters, and four granddaughters, as well as a lifetime of friends who stuck by him in the good times, the crazy times and the tough ones. They all were very important to him.

Tags: arts/media, business