FOR A BEHIND-THE-SCENES operator who shunned the limelight, it was an extraordinary public affirmation of the impact he had on the state’s political landscape. 

Hundreds of people gathered in Faneuil Hall in Boston on Tuesday to remember John Walsh, a Democratic political strategist who is credited with reinvigorating campaigns with a focus on grass-roots organizing. 

The crowd included scores of young people Walsh mentored as they looked for a foothold in politics along with a large cast of political dignitaries that included two former governors, the state’s current governor and attorney general, a US senator, and two members of the US House of Representatives. 

Walsh, who died on November 20 of cancer at age 65, rose to prominence by leading Deval Patrick’s 2006 campaign for governor. 

Patrick told the gathering about his first meeting with Walsh, at a Randolph Dunkin’ Donuts in 2005 when he was considering running for governor. “I knew why I wanted to run, but I didn’t know how,” said Patrick, recalling his complete lack of experience in politics. 

He and Walsh quickly clicked, sharing a belief in a positive-focused politics that looks to inspire people based on what they’re for, not who or what they’re against.  

“Maybe we shared a vague notion that politics could be better,” said Patrick, who went on to win two terms in office.

A burly working-class son of Irish immigrants, Walsh may be more responsible than any other individual for a succession of barrier-breaking victories by women and candidates of color in Massachusetts. 

After helping Patrick become the state’s first Black governor, Walsh counseled Ayanna Pressley in her 2018 primary victory for a US House seat, defeating a 20-year incumbent Democrat on her way to becoming the first Black woman to represent the state in Congress. And he advised Andrea Campbell, who beat a 32-year incumbent to win a Boston city council seat before going on to become the first Black woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts when she was elected attorney general last year. 

“John Walsh changed the face of Massachusetts politics,” Pressley told the gathering, calling it notable that “so many women and people of color count him as a mentor.” 

“He knew the gatekeeping of old-school politics was a detriment to the Democratic Party, and he didn’t just wax poetic about it,” said Pressley. “He mentored, he referred, he recommended, he coached, and he advocated.”  

Campbell said Walsh “had an intimate hand in the ‘firsts’ that are here today,” referring to the landmark elections he had a pivotal role in.

In 2020, Walsh steered Sen. Ed Markey’s successful reelection campaign when he faced a primary challenge from then-Congressman Joe Kennedy. Walsh said at the time that he first had to beat back all the “wise guys and political types” asking him when Markey was going to drop out. 

Markey told the Faneuil Hall gathering that Walsh stayed focused on the ground-level organizing they were doing – lots if it focused on his climate change record – while also keeping the campaign staff calm in the face of initial polls and doomsday predictions.

“As a campaign manager, John was a Buddha with a spreadsheet,” said Markey. “He would always say, have faith, don’t listen to the ads or the chatter class or the dreaded poll-er coaster.  Listen to the people. Above all else, trust the grass-roots.” 

In the hard-bitten world of politics, Patrick said, Walsh was an eternal optimist. “John’s sister Patty once said that John was born with a rainbow up his ass.” Patrick said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Walsh’s son, Coleman, said his father “would be absolutely embarrassed by all of this outpouring of love. My dad operated best quietly in the background, anonymously changing the world.” 

As the speakers all noted, the change Walsh made was not just a function of the candidates he helped get elected, but the legion of young people he always made time for, sharing a cup of tea and encouraging advice about ways to make a difference in politics. 

“John’s faith in regular people enabled him to see talent not yet discovered,” said Patrick, recalling how Walsh demurred when he asked him to run his reelection campaign in 2010 and instead promoted a young woman, Sydney Asbury, for the job, voicing confidence in her abilities. 

“John did that kind of thing over and over and over again,” said Patrick. “He watched over, encouraged, and launched talent-in-waiting, if you will, not just introducing newcomers to politics, but building capacity and careers.” 

Following Walsh’s death, Patrick said a friend reached out and said “this is no time to lose John Walsh, that in these times we need more John Walshes, not fewer. I‘m here to tell you, as others have, that thanks to John Walsh there are a lot more John Walshes. We may not have his genius, but we have his spirit, his grit, his faith in the grass-roots, his ability to see the best in everyone and to ask for it.”