Re: [Harp-L] Bill Haydu RIP / Steel Valley Harmonica Club

[George Miklas <harmonicat@xxxxxxxxx>]

I went to the funeral home tonight to pay my respects to Bill Haydu, and
ran into another member that I had forgotten... Don Blair.  Don is living
in the Youngstown Ohio area, still plays a little bit, but shakes pretty
badly with Parkinson's Disease.

Earlier today, Smokey Joe added Frank Fordeley amongst the list of living,
and Ernie Lakatos among the list of deceased.  Frank is in fact still
living in Warren, Ohio, however I've had no recent contact with him.  Ernie
did in fact pass several years ago.  Notably, Ernie was a member of the
Penn-Ohio Polka Pals, and contributed to the Penn-Ohio Polka Pals Souvenir
Edition Album, which was a finalist in the 1989 Grammy Awards.

George

On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 1:12 PM, Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> On Jan 8, 2012, at 12:07 PM, George Miklas wrote:
>
> > Wow!  There aren't many members of the old Steel Valley Harmonica Club
> > left.  The club closed its books years ago, but there still about 8 of us
> > left.... Myself, Chuck Rushen, Bob Dombroski, Herb Eck, Mike Seizer, Dale
> > "Pixie" Ensign, Al Sepesy, and Theresa Sepesy.  There maybe more, but
> that
> > is all I know of.
> >
> > This club once had Jack Allison (top chromatic and trio player from
> > Pittsburgh), Vito Patierno (chord player from Johnny Puleo's Harmonica
> > Gang), Stephen Miklas (my father who from 1942-1945 played the harmonica
> > for General George Patton and General Dwight Eisenhower) Al Data, Lew
> > Martin, and Mike Smith (The Harmonica Brats), hosted the 1977 SPAH
> > convention, brought in top entertainers such as Cham-Ber Haung, The Sgro
> > Brothers, Harry Fineberg for other club functions.
> >
> > My mom, Janet Miklas, was the treasurer of the club from 1978 - 1983.
> >
> > Between 1997 and 2003, Bill Haydu (along with Chuck Rushen and 4 other
> men)
> > would come to my house in Grove City PA.  We would read various harmonica
> > arrangements for enjoyment and improvement.
> >
> > Chuck Rushen is still living, but is bound to a nursing home.
> > I haven't seen Bob Dombroski for a long time, but heard he is still
> around.
> > Herb Eck is still playing and frequenting harmonica festivals in Virginia
> > and New Jersey and DannyG's picnic in Ohio.
> > Al and Theresa Sepesy are still around.. I last saw them in Salem Ohio
> when
> > I was playing Electric Bass for the Sgro Brother's concert in the park.
> > Mike Seizer gave up the harmonica long ago (when he got married).
> > Dale "Pixie" Ensign is playing in a blues band somewhere in Florida.
>
> Frank Fordely is still alive in Sharon Pa.? Former member Joe Leone is
> still alive in SW Florida?
> Ernie Lakatos passed away several years ago.
> >
> > I continue to Promote the Advancement of the Harmonica.  I have to offer
> > both solo and duo harmonica shows, and concerts with bands and
> orchestras.
> > I have recently begun promoting the new medical harmonica, and have
> opened
> > my own harmonica repair shop.
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 11:06 AM, Danny G newharmonica <
> > dannyg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >> I just received word that a dear friend and fellow harmonica player,
> Bill
> >> Haydu passed away Thursday morning, January 5th.
> >> Bill was a long time member of SPAH and the Steel Valley Harmonica Club
> >> and played with a group called The Groovin' Grandpas until last Spring
> when
> >> because of health problems he moved from Youngstown, Ohio to live with
> his
> >> son in North Carolina. Bill would have celebrated his 83rd birthday in
> >> April.
> >>
> >> Viewing hours will be this evening
> >> (Sunday January 8, 2012) from 5 PM - 7 PM
> >> Kannick Funeral Home
> >> 477 North Meridian Road
> >> Youngstown, Ohio
> >>
> >> Services will be tomorrow
> >> Saint Georges Catholic Church in Canfield, Ohio
> >>
>
>