By Tiger Schmittendorf
Deputy Fire Coordinator
Erie County Division of Fire Safety
 Michael V. Walters |
ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. — Michael V. Walters, former Mayor of the Village of Angola and former Commissioner of the Erie County Department of Emergency Services, passed away on Sunday. He was 63.
Mr. Walters retired as commissioner in December 2005 and was diagnosed with cancer in September the following year. He lost that valiant battle early Sunday morning.
Former Mayor Walters is survived by Karen, his loving wife of 23 years; his son Christian; brother Peter of Muncie, Indiana; and his sister Molly of Hamburg, New York.
Mike Walters dedicated his life to his family, his community, his country and the emergency services community, serving Erie County for 33 years. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam conflict and in the Navy Reserve for three years following his honorable discharge.
He served the Erie County Department of Emergency Services as an EMS instructor, deputy commissioner in charge of the EMS division and as commissioner from 1998 to 2005.
Mike was instrumental in the early development of the EMT program in the Western New York and was responsible for much of the progress in emergency services and readiness for our county.
Mike started his emergency services career with the Evans Center Volunteer Fire Company and went on to be an exempt and honorary life member of the Angola Volunteer Fire Department and is considered family within the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation Fire Department.
He served as the Mayor of the Village of Angola from 1993 until 2000, executive director of the Western New York Stress Reduction Program, a member of the New York State Wireless 911 Board and several other organizations. He was employed as a project manager for L. Robert Kimball prior to his death.
Mike Walters was an avid motorcyclist and hunter, and enjoyed spending time with everyone he touched.
Visitation is scheduled at the Addison Funeral Home from 2-4pm and from 7-9pm on Wednesday and Thursday. The public is asked to use the lot of the CAO Youth Center (old Masonic Temple) at the corner of Mill and North Main Street as alternate parking.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Most Precious Blood Church at 11am on Friday. Interment will follow immediately at the Brant Cemetery.
Mike Walters will be missed by the entire community as a neighbor, friend, mentor and devoted public servant.
Memorials may be made in Mr. Walters honor to: the Western New York Stress Reduction Program, 3359 Broadway, Cheektowaga NY 14227 - www.erie.gov/stress; the Franciscan Center, 1910 Seneca Street, Buffalo NY 14210 or www.franciscancenterinc.org; or the Lifeline Foundation Jonah Center at ECMC, 462 Grider Street, Buffalo NY 14215 or www.ecmclifeline.org.