Sandra R. Walker, née Polkow, 68, a Tong Rong therapist and operatic soprano, died suddenly in her sleep on September 8 in her Naperville home.
The daughter of late frozen food pioneer Marvin R. Polkow and late nurse Elaine M. Polkow, Ms. Walker was born on December 17, 1947 in Oak Park and grew up in Elmhurst.
In her early years, Walker was a vocal prodigy singing leads in musicals such as “Show Boat” at Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst and won a scholarship to study voice with legendary operatic baritone Tito Gobbi in Italy. She received a vocal performance degree from Northern Illinois University and did her graduate work at the Manhattan School of Music, performing operatic roles in New York before returning to Italy.
During her performance time in Chicago, Walker was prima donna of Repertory Opera Theatre in Oak Park where she performed leading roles in operas of Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Holst, Poulenc and Menotti, among others. She also sang the title role for the world premiere of Raymond Wilding-White’s three-act opera “Yerma,” based on the Federico Garcia Lorca play. Walker was also a regular performer of the Wagner Society of America, the Spoleto Festival and the Aspen Music Festival.
Walker possessed a large voice, unusual for a lyric soprano, which made her a natural to perform tragic Puccini heroines, her specialty. She is featured in the title role on the Chicago Music Association’s 1975 recording of “Madama Butterfly” and sang “Un bel di” on the Italian RAI television network with the NATO band.
After retiring from the stage to raise a family, Walker continued to sing across naval bases in Europe and the United States as a soloist with her husband, Navy band leader, pianist and composer Barney Walker. In 1998, the couple moved back to the Chicago area where Walker created and directed the St. Joan of Arc parish children’s choir in Lisle and taught voice students at home.
Sacred music was a lifelong love for Walker, a devout Roman Catholic. She was proud to be the first woman ever asked to cantor at her home parish after Vatican II (Visitation Church in Elmhurst) and most recently had served as a cantor and chorister at St. Irene’s Church in Warrenville. Of all of her international performances, Ms. Walker was most proud to have sung Schubert’s “Ave Maria” at the convent and in the presence of Sr. Lúcia, visionary of Our Lady of Fatima.
After successfully seeking relief from fibromyalgia from Tong Ren Therapy founder Tom Tam, Walker became a Tong Ren therapist and made a mission of offering healing and hope to others through Chi Gong. She hosted a weekly televised Tong Ren therapy session that was an inspiration to many.
Walker is survived by her husband of over 39 years, Barney; by her sons Robert (Erin) and Douglas (Robin); and by her sisters Judy and Bonnie (James), brothers Gary (Paula) and Dennis and by niece Jennifer (Mike), nephews Dave (Katie), Eric (Bailey) and Alex and great-nieces Annie and Molly and great-nephews Jack, Ryne and Finn.
Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on September 22, 2016, at St. Irene’s Catholic Church, 28W441 Warrenville Rd., Warrenville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to onestepcamp.org, a summer camp for children with cancer, would be appreciated.
