Walter Roth moved to Hyde Park with his father, step-mother and two siblings in the summer of 1938 after they escaped Nazi Germany. Walter attended Hyde Park High School, University of Illinois at Navy Pier and graduated cum laude and editor of the law review from the University of Chicago Law School in 1952. He spent a year after graduation on a kibbutz in Israel. Upon his return to Chicago, he became a law clerk for Judge Luther M Swygert of the 7th Circuit until 1953 when he joined the law firm of D'Ancona, Pflaum, Wyatt and Riskind. He met his wife, Chaya, soon thereafter, whom he married in Antwerp, Belgium. In addition to his professional legal practice, Walter became active in the American Jewish Congress and became president of the Midwest Region for a number of years. In that capacity, he wrote many articles about matters affecting civil rights and Zionism. He was also active in the Chicago Jewish Historical Society, eventually becoming president. He has served as a director and a vice president of Congregation Rodfei Zedek of Hyde Park, of which he is a current member and trustee. Walter's prior books include: An Accidental Anarchist, Looking Backward: True Stories from Chicago's Jewish Past and Avengers, and Defenders: Glimpses of Chicago's Jewish Past.