Director Jon Forrest Dohlin says aquarium workers took extraordinary steps to try to save Ayveq and are deeply saddened by the death of their "beloved walrus."
Aquarium spokeswoman Fran Hackett says Ayveq appeared to blow kisses to visitors through an underwater window.
Ayveq was one of three orphaned walruses taken to the aquarium in May 1994 from the village of Gambel on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska.
His name means walrus in the Siberian Yupik (YOO'-pik) language.
Ayveq had a calf named Akituusaq (ah-kee-TOO'-sak), who recently turned a year old.
