Tonette Walker
{{short description|Former First Lady of Wisconsin}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{infobox officeholder
| name = Tonette Walker
| image = Tonette Walker speaks during Scott Walkers 2016 Presidential campaign announcement.jpg
| office = First Lady of Wisconsin
| governor = Scott Walker
| term_label = In role
| term_start = January 3, 2011
| term_end = January 7, 2019
| predecessor = Jessica Doyle
| successor = Kathy Evers
| birth_name = Tonette Marie Tarantino
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|10|19}}
| birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = {{marraige|Scott Walker|1993}}
| children = 2
| caption = Walker in 2015
}}
Tonette Marie Tarantino Walker (born October 19, 1955) served as the first lady of Wisconsin from 2011–2019 as the wife of Scott Walker, the 45th governor of Wisconsin.
Early life and family
Tonette Marie Tarantino was born on October 19, 1955, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,{{cite web|url=http://www.bravamagazine.com/BRAVAMagazine/Profiles/0111JessicaDoyleTonetteWalker.aspx|title=BRAVA Magazine>Profiles>0111 Jessica Doyle & Tonette Walker|publisher=Bravamagazine.com|accessdate=November 10, 2014}} the daughter of Geraldine Marie (Minorik) and Anthony "Tony" Tarantino.{{cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?pid=164009622|title=Anthony "Tony" Tarantino obituary|work=Journal-Sentinel|location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|date=April 4, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.churchandchapel.com/obituary/Geraldine-Marie-Colletti/Franklin-WI/223156|work=Church and Chapel|title=Geraldine Marie Colletti obituary|date=May 20, 2005}} Her father's family was Sicilian. She spent more than 20 years employed in the insurance industry before working for the American Diabetes Association. She was raised Catholic.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/scott-walkers-wife-toughened-by-life-adds-steel-to-the-gop-candidates-spine/2015/07/05/61337f5d-2513-4698-8f27-647e28b3c8cc_story.html|title=Scott Walker's wife, toughened by life, is ready for fires of a campaign|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 5, 2015|last=Jordan|first=Mary}}
First Lady of Wisconsin
File:Scott Walker hugs wife Tonette at 2016 Presidential announcement.jpg, 2015]]
In her capacity as the First Lady of Wisconsin, Walker worked in partnership with various foundations and non-profit organizations to better recognize, understand, and address the effects of trauma on the lives of children and families in Wisconsin. Walker also worked regularly with Teen Challenge of Wisconsin, a faith-based organization dedicated to the healing and rehabilitation of teens and young adults with substance abuse addictions.{{cite web|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/spouses-bios/col2-content/main-content-list/tonette-tarantino-walker.html|title=Tonette Tarantino Walker (Wisconsin)|publisher=Nga.org|accessdate=November 10, 2014}}
In response to the devastating Japanese tsunami and earthquakes of 2011, Walker spearheaded the Wisconsin-Chiba Japan Relief Project, an ongoing effort to provide financial assistance to Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMaAxnZU788|title=Tonette Walker Talks About Transition To State's First Lady|work=YouTube|accessdate=November 10, 2014}}
In 2011, Walker launched a monthly "Walk with Walker" event on local trails in the State of Wisconsin in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to feature the natural scenery and beauty of the state. Walker also presents a Wisconsin Heroes Award each month. The award goes to a resident who voluntarily devotes his or her time and energy to a non-profit organization or cause.{{cite web|url=http://www.walkwithwalkerwi.org|title=Walk With Walker|publisher=Walkwithwalkerwi.org|accessdate=November 10, 2014}}
During the 2012 Wisconsin recall effort, Walker frequently gave speeches{{cite web|url=http://www.wisn.com/Thousands-Rally-To-Support-Gov-Walker-Amid-Recall-Fight/10936820|title=Thousands Rally To Support Gov. Walker Amid Recall Fight|author=|work=WISN.com|date=January 22, 2012 |accessdate=November 10, 2014}} and delivered messages in support of her husband,{{cite web|url=http://www.rightwisconsin.com/perspectives/Tonette-Walker-Winner-of-the-Margaret-Thatcher-Award-275826361.html|title=Tonette Walker: Winner of the Margaret Thatcher Award|publisher=Rightwisconsin.com|accessdate=November 10, 2014}} telling supporters not to be ruled by anger, assuring them that Republican reforms were working, and thanking them for their support.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WaukeshaPatch/status/342439379496742912|title=Waukesha Patch on Twitter: "Tonette Walker thanks crowd for thoughts, prayers and support in recall election last year."|publisher=Twitter.com|accessdate=November 10, 2014}} She received threats during that time on her life and the lives of her husband and sons.{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/tonette-walker-gop-leaders-rally-governors-supporters-nt3t0av-137829313.html|title=Tonette Walker, GOP leaders rally governor's supporters|author=Bill Glauber|publisher=Jsonline.com|accessdate=November 10, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/212405401.html|title=One-on-One with Wisconsin's first lady Tonette Walker|author=Lacey Crisp|work=tmj4.com|accessdate=November 10, 2014}}
In August 2012, Walker met with First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama prior to Michelle Obama's visit with the family members of the victims and those seriously injured in the shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek.{{cite web|url=http://walker.wi.gov/newsroom/press-release/first-lady-tonette-walker-meets-first-lady-michelle-obama#sthash.McEP5Cza.dpuf|title=First Lady Tonette Walker Meets With First Lady Michelle Obama - Office of the Governor - Scott Walker|publisher=Walker.wi.gov|accessdate=November 10, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://fox6now.com/2012/08/23/wisconsins-first-lady-meets-with-first-lady-michelle-obama/|title=Wisconsin's first lady meets with first lady Michelle Obama - FOX6Now.com|work=FOX6Now.com|date=August 23, 2012 |accessdate=November 10, 2014}}
Walker works in the development department for the American Lung Association.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Personal life
Walker married her first husband when she was 23, but he died of kidney disease by the time she was 30. Five years after her first husband's death, she was at a karaoke night at Saz's State House restaurant when she first met Scott Walker, 12 years her junior.{{cite web|url=http://heavy.com/news/2014/11/scott-walker-wife-tonette-age-twitter-sons-matt-alex/|title=Tonette Walker, Scott's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know - Heavy.com|author=Emer Hughes|work=Heavy.com|date=November 5, 2014 |accessdate=November 10, 2014}} She and Walker wed in 1993 and are parents to two sons, Matt and Alex.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://firstlady.wi.gov/about-first-lady-walker First Lady of Wisconsin website]
{{s-start}}
{{s-hon}}
{{s-bef|before=Jessica Doyle}}
{{s-ttl|title=First Lady of Wisconsin|years=2011–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Kathy Evers}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Tonette}}
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:First ladies and gentlemen of Wisconsin
Category:Former Roman Catholics