Ruth "Kay" Walker Castaldo

Ruth “Kay” Walker Castaldo died on August 1, 2016 in Edgewood, New Mexico after a very courageous battle with a brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme. 

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1948, the daughter of Rev. Lloyd and Kathryn Walker. She was a graduate of South High School, Youngstown, Ohio and attended Taylor University and Western Reserve University. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and a Masters of Music History and Musicology from the University of Michigan. Kay pursued post-graduate studies in Opera Direction at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she subsequently served as Director of the Opera Department. 

Kay is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph F. Castaldo. She is survived by two stepchildren, David J. Castaldo of Syracuse, New York and Annalisa Castaldo (Alex Bove) of Philadelphia; and a step grandson, Joseph Castaldo, of Syracuse, New York. She is also survived by her four siblings, Carolyn (David) Patek, Robert (Sherri) Walker, Janet Walker, and Kirk (Wendy) Walker, as well as by many loving nieces and nephews. 

She was an enormously loving, caring, and giving person in her life and in her work. Her service as associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance, was preceded by a career as a director of both opera and theater, with a multitude of new, original productions to her credit. A strong supporter of up and coming talent, Kay worked with several collegiate and young artist programs prior to joining the faculty of the University of Michigan. She also taught acting classes at Yale University for a number of years. 

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 6, 2016 at Lakemore United Methodist Church, 1536 Flickinger Road, Akron, Ohio, 44312. Gathering and viewing will occur at 10:30 a.m., before the service. Interment will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Bedford, Ohio. Arrangements are made by French Mortuary of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, Canton Road, Akron, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to: ECHO (Honoring God through sustainable hunger solutions) 17391 Durrance Rd., North Ft. Myers, FL 33917 (echonet.org), or Lakemore United Methodist Church, 1536 Flickinger Rd., Akron, OH 44312.