Versatile pianist Roger Williams dies of cancer at 87

Nation ◆ Off Page One
The Wenatchee World
A5
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Versatile pianist Roger Williams dies of cancer at 87
The Associated Press
in 2008, when he performed
at a luncheon for then-first
LOS ANGELES — Roger
lady Laura Bush.
Williams, the virtuoso pianist
Williams was good
who topped the Billboard pop
friends with Jimmy Carter,
chart in the 1950s and played
with whom he shared a
for nine U.S. presidents
birthday. When the two men
during a long career, died
turned 80, Williams played
Saturday. He was 87.
a 12-hour marathon at the
Williams died at his home
Jimmy Carter Library and
in Los Angeles of complicaMuseum in Atlanta, with
tions from pancreatic cancer,
the former president in
according to his former
attendance.
publicist, Rob Wilcox.
Born Louis Wertz in
Known as an electrifying
Nebraska, Williams started
stage performer and an adept
playing piano at age 3. By
improviser, Williams effortThe Ventura County Star photo age 9 he was prolific with
lessly switched between
several instruments and
On Oct. 1, 2007, Williams played the piano during his 83rd
musical styles.
could play anything by ear.
birthday celebration in Simi Valley, Calif.
“Roger was one of the
“I had a piano teacher
greatest pianists in the world
growing up who would
and could play anything
never play a song for me,
to classical music to jazz.
time, with more than 2
from teenagers to senior
she would make me play
He was one of the greatest
million sold.
citizens.”
it from sheet music so I
personalities I’ve ever
Williams’ 1955 hit “Autumn
Nicknamed the “pianist
could learn to read music,”
known,” said Sen. Orrin
Leaves” was the only piano
to the presidents,” Williams
Williams said, according to
Hatch of Utah, a longtime
instrumental to reach number played for every commander
biographical information
friend of Williams and
one on the Billboard pop
in chief from Harry Truman
provided by Wilcox.
himself a musician. “He
charts. It remains the bestto George H.W. Bush. His last
As a teenager, he was
could touch any audience,
selling piano record of all
trip to the White House was
given his own 15-minute
radio show on KRNT-AM,
which was broadcast live
from a Des Moines, Iowa,
department store. Later
he hosted a program on
WHO-AM, where he first
met the station’s young
sports announcer, Ronald
“Dutch” Reagan. The two
men started a friendship
which lasted over 60 years.
Nancy Reagan said that
when the two men met in
Iowa all those years ago,
“neither could have guessed
that their careers would
take them both to the White
House someday.”
The former first lady
noted Saturday that in recent
years Williams performed
several times at the Reagan
Library, including for a
concert celebrating the late
president’s 100th birthday.
“Roger was a great pianist,
a great American, and a
great friend. I am saddened
by his death, and my
sympathy and prayers go out
to his family,” Nancy Reagan
said in a statement.
FIESTAS MEXICANAS CELEBRATED ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND 17TH
Fiestas Mexicanas
Special
thanks
Thanks to the
following sponsors:
Main Event Sponsors:
Wilber Zaldivar
Re-enactment Guest presenter:
Ph. Ed. Ismael Vivanco and his wife Mati Vivanco
Missing child’s parents under close scrutiny
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Decades of statistics
on infant abductions in the U.S. suggest one of
the least likely scenarios in this week’s disappearance of a Kansas City baby is that a stranger broke into her home and quietly snatched
her from her crib.
But the numbers also lead national experts
to believe that if 10-month-old Lisa Irwin were
taken by an intruder in the middle of the night,
as her parents told investigators, she is likely
still alive.
Strangers who kidnap infants or young
children, though rare, often do so because
they want a child of their own, not because
they intend to hurt or kill the child, said David
Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against
Children Research Center at the University of
New Hampshire.
But the experts acknowledge that investigators often focus on close relatives when a baby
goes missing, in part because statistics show
that far more infants and young children are
The recipients of Fiestas Mexicanas Awards were:
Woods
killed by a parent than a stranger.
“Suspicion almost always falls heavily on
the parents, especially when it’s young kids,”
Finkelhor said. “Fifteen hundred parents kill
their kids every year, and that’s heavily focused
on the under 1 year of age category.”
Ernie Allen, president of the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children in Arlington, Va., said his organization has handled 278
infant abduction cases during his nearly three
decades with the group. Only 13 cases involved
a stranger coming into a home and taking a
baby, and all but one of those children were
recovered unharmed.
Lisa’s parents, Jeremy Irwin and Deborah
Bradley, reported their daughter missing
early Tuesday. Their relationship with investigators chilled late Thursday, when police
announced the parents were no longer talking
to detectives.
Saturday, police spoke with the couple
on the phone but had not met with them in
person, Kansas City police spokesman Capt.
Steve Young said.
the lower lobby, along with
silent auction items. The
upper lobby will be filled with
vendors.
Jessica said that four local
restaurants and caterers will
be responsible for the food:
Visconti’s, Famé, The Cellar
and The IvyWild.
The price for the gala
evening has gone down this
year, to $100 per seat. Reservation notices will be going
out next week, Jessica said.
The festival runs Nov. 19-21.
The festival has become
one of the fixtures of the
winter season that we anticipate, and the changes are
welcome.
Artists:
Sonido Huajuapeno, Mariachi Estrella de Mexico, Grupo Los Faraones,
Grupo Los infieles, Mariachi Huenachi, Ocxtacy studio,
Grupo Komando M1, Banda La LLegadora, Banda Perla Azteca,
Tremendos Musical, Grupo Sombra de Michoacan.
Special thanks to all the participants:
Royal Prestige, Safeway East Wenatchee, Premier One Properties, Inc/Wilber, Rotary Club,
Family Planning, Advance Tutoring Services, Dr. Latimer, Columbia Valley Clinic, DSHS,
Community Health Plan, Avivamiento Cristiano, Chase Bank, Camara De Comercio Hispana,
WSU Washington State University, University Of Washington, Central Washington University,
WVC Wenatchee Valley College, Verizon, Cashmere Valley Bank, Mecha Wenatchee, Epic,
Vans, United Way, Catholic Family, El Tapatio, Juguetes Jazmin, Arianas, El Coritas, Café,
Juguetes Mayte, El Zocalo, Tropical Salvadoreno, Tacos Chava, Antojitos Mexicanos Elvira,
Plaza Jalisco, Churros Tomas, Mecha East Wenatchee, Fut-Bol Era, Artesanias Mexicanas,
Literacy Council, Re/Max/Maria Mendez, Together By Youth, Mortgage Advisory Group/
Allstate Insurance, Brincolines Maria Orozco, Les Shawb, Audio City.
October 11
at 12 pm
Miller Street
Conference Room
1000 N. Miller Street
in Wenatchee
(Next to Walgreens)
Mary Timiras, MD
c: DEMENTIA
TopiHear
about the diagnosis and
management of dementia.
For more information about WVMC’s free monthly community
talks, visit our website at www.wvmedical.com
Advertise your business in the 2012
WENATCHEE VALLEY
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Special Thanks to:
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School Districts, Community Volunteers, David Centaura Studio, Ocxtacy Studio.
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Check us out at
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Judges for King and Queen election:
Gaby Fernandez, Nan Cuevas, Carol McCormick, John Magnus, Ismael Vivanco.
Talks
It’s tailgate party time!
“Life Is Better at
RiverWest”
Scholarship Recipients:
Kassandra Mendoza, Estefani Martinez, Marco Martinez, Carlos Chaires, Diana Vazquez.
W E N AT C H E E V A L L E Y M E D I C A L C E N T E R P R E S E N T S
Credit
for a deficiency-free survey from
The State of Washington.
We want to recognize our amazing team of
professionals for a job well done!
RiverWest also had outstanding survey results for
overall satisfaction and recommendation to others from
our residents, families and staff once again in 2011.
Special Guests:
Eastmont Superintendent Garn Christensen, Eastmont Mayor Steve Lacey,
Director of Federal projects from Wenatcheee School District Nancy Duffy.
Fiestas Mexicanas Queen: Estefani Martinez
Fiestas Mexicanas King: Carlos Chaires Rodriguez
From Page A1
Johnson said the city is not Wenatchee could eventually
working on any upcoming
commit up to 14 percent of
bond issues, so there will be
its budget to help pay for the
no immediate impact from
Town Toyota Center, which is
From Page A1
the lowered rating. However, considered high.
he said the city could
The agency decided
anticipation notes, are rated
last week to continue the
on a scale of SP-1 to SP-3, with eventually sell its own bonds
to help pay for the Town
“negative” credit watch for
SP-1 being the highest.
Toyota Center, and those
the city.
The arena’s debt was first
Standard & Poors is one
downgraded from SP-1 to SP-2 bonds would be affected by
of the world’s leading creditby the rating agency in April. the new credit rating.
An A rating means an
rating agencies, offering its
The agency also lowered
entity has the capacity to
opinions about the relative
its rating last week for the
city’s general obligation debt meet its financial obligations credit risk a company or
but is subject to adverse
government entity may pose
from A to A-minus “due in
to investors. The lowered
large part to our view of the economic conditions. An
A-minus is a lower rating
rating for the Town Toyota
city’s budgetary challenge
but still considered to be
Center applies to about
in assuming the burden of
$36.5 million of the debt
annual payments to support investment grade.
In April, the agency
that is backed by revenues
the planned long-term
attached a “negative” watch to generated at the facility.
obligations needed to retire
the (arena debt),” the agency Wenatchee’ overall credit and However, the rating agency
restored the higher SP-1
said in a prepared statement. has been keeping a close eye
on local actions dealing with
rating for the approximately
Mayor Dennis Johnson
the arena’s debt and the city’s $7 million outstanding
said the lowered credit
finances.
bonds that are backed by
rating means the city may
The agency stated that
a guaranteed sales tax
have to pay more to sell
it anticipates the city of
kickback from the state.
bonds backed by the city’s
general fund in the future.
He said the amount the
city’s credit was lowered
could amount to paying
one-quarter of 1 percent
higher interest on future
bonds.
13.4” Portable Charcoal Grill
“The better the bond
rating the lower the interest
rates,” he said.
It does not affect special
city funds, such as the water,
21 N. Wenatchee Ave.
waste water and storm water
Downtown Wenatchee
departments because they
(509) 293-6005
are supported by utility fees.
Congratulations to the
Staff of RiverWest
Douglas Head Regional Director of Children's Home Society,
Brenda Abney Director of Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center.
Comp
lim
the
ents of
reau •
itors Bu
lley Vis
ee Va
Wenatch
ent to
Supplem
st
ee & Ea
Wenatch
atchee
The Wen
World
ee,
Wenatch
ton
Washing
65,000 copies to be distributed throughout the state and a highlighted
link on the www.wenatcheevalley.org home page make this the best
way to reach leisure travelers, corporate meeting and event planners,
convention delegates, travel agents and the travel media.
For more information contact
Roger Clute: [email protected]
or 663.3723 or your
Wenatchee World Sales Representative.