Walter Mullally: Dog breeder, photographer

Well-traveled 'Renaissance man' loved to listen to jazz collection, play horn

Walter Daniel Mullally, an Evergreen Park dog breeder and amateur photographer, died Oct. 27 at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after suffering a stroke. He was 84.

Mr. Mullally raised St. Bernards and English Sheepdogs at his home for more than a decade throughout the 1960s. "He once had a St. Bernard named 'Puppy.' It weighed more than 100 pounds," his son Tom said.

Mr. Mullally loved photographing ancient ruins.

"He had a darkroom in his basement and had traveled to Mexico, Egypt and Greece," Tom Mullally said.

And he had a passion for jazz.

"He had a large jazz record collection, plus he played a few woodwind instruments," Mr. Mullally's son said. "His hero was Thelonious Monk, and he used to smoke a pipe and sit at home and play along with his records."

Born and raised in Chicago Heights, Mr. Mullally served in the Army in both the European and Pacific theaters during World War II before graduating from Loyola University in Chicago.

Described as a "true Renaissance man" by his daughter Mary, Mr. Mullally, worked a few jobs to provide for his family and had the title of toy store owner (which pleased his kids), mail order catalog photographer and customer service representative.

"He loved taking his grandkids shopping and for walks even though he lost one of his granddaughters at the mall once," said his son Tom. "After five minutes of frantic searching he found her and bought her an ice cream."

In addition to his two children, Mr. Mullally is survived by 10 grandchildren.

No services are being held for Mr. Mullally. He donated his body to science.