Walter Rykiel Obituary

Walter M. Rykiel, known to everyone as "Boots", passed away at home on April 10, 2022, surrounded by loved ones after a yearlong battle with cancer. Boots was born in Baltimore, MD to Albert J. Rykiel, Sr. and Marie H. (Damasiewicz) Rykiel on December 20, 1941 and grew up in Highlandtown.

Boots attended Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore and after graduation joined the U.S. Air Force stationed in Dover, Delaware. Boots married Carol A. McGee in 1963 and worked as a journalist for the Milford Chronicle and editor for the Wilmington News Journal. Boots and Carol settled first in Milford before moving to Newark, Delaware and later Annapolis, Maryland. Boots worked his remaining years in the newspaper biz with USA Today in Rosslyn, Virginia before retiring.

It wasn't long before Boots was sought after for his expertise as a consultant with the Associated Press, bringing him out of retirement. With the AP, Boots traveled the world visiting Spain, Japan, Greece, Italy, France, and Switzerland. Once finally retired, Boots and Carol settled by a quiet canal in Selbyville, Delaware where he enjoyed boating, fishing, picking crabs, bird watching and sports.

Boots is survived by his wife, Carol, his son, Christian and his daughter-in-law, Shauna along with his three grandchildren, Travis, Karissa and Alex. Boots was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Marie and his brother, Albert "Sox" Rykiel, Jr.

As per his wishes no funeral services or celebration of life is planned. Think of Boots and his quick wit, kind words of advice, hearty laugh, and smile. He's gone fishin'.