Ayveq the Walrus, 14, died Sunday at the New York Aquarium, after a short illness. He was known for his huge walrus grin and his antics in front of the glass window at the bottom of the tank.

Born off the village of Gambel on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, Ayveq was one of three orphaned calves brought back to the Aquarium in 1994. His name means walrus in the Siberian [Yupik] language.

In his career at the Aquarium, Ayveq became a star by blowing kisses through the glass at the crowds of visitors and his keepers. The Aquarium director, Jon Forrest Dohlin, said: “He was incredibly charismatic, a very social animal.”

To Dohlin and the staff Ayveq was “a shining star.” Dohlin said Ayveq loved the attention and, if for some reason, visitors failed to notice him, he would flip his flippers at the glass to attract attention, “look them straight in the eye and give them a great big walrus grin.”

Walruses can live in captivity as long as 30 years, so Ayveq’s death, apparently as a result of an aggressive bacterial infection, has hit the aquarium staff hard.

“We loved that animal, all 2,700 pounds of him. Most of all he enjoyed blowing us kisses. He liked doing that because he knew we appreciated it,” Fran Hackett, spokeswoman for the Aquarium said.

His survivors include his mate Kulusiq and his son Akituusaq, who was born just a year ago. The young walrus made his debut in Sept. 2007. He had tiny whiskers, was just four months old and weighed 250 pounds. On that day, he went for a swim with his mother, who nudged him off a rock into the water. She dived in and they emerged from the water with the youngster riding on his mother’s back. He was the first walrus calf ever born in New York City and billed at birth as the biggest baby in New York.

Among Ayveq’s favorite foods were herring, capelin and squid. Among his accomplishments were learning to suck fish from a giant straw. He also learned to whistle, wave and salute. He was very devoted to his mate and son. According to aquarium officials “he learned to plant whiskery kisses on their cheeks.”

The funeral was private but a memorial service was held Monday.