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

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

And I now understand why you refer to yourself as 'Mr. Cellophane',  Smokey 
- if even George does it!<G>
 
 
Harry Feinberg comes regularly to the Garden State Harmonica Club meetings. 
 In fact I owe him the copy of his performance at the recent November, 2011 
 festival I've promised him. He makes sure to remind me if I show up 
without it.  A bona fide WWII War Hero, he was introduced by Stan Harper on the 
Festival's  big night. Harry is 91 and despite having to use a walker to 
support himself  here and there still plays exceedingly well and loves to both 
teach chromatic  and tell us his harmonica stories. Stan just turned 90 and 
had those who  attended the Club's 40th Anniversary party in stitches with his 
very funny  patter (between his amazing playing).
 
 
 
Neither of these men have lost anything to time or age. It's impossible to  
think of either as past 90. Harmonica playing seems to provide more oxygen  
to one's tissues and brain and  keeps one youthful longer. Hope it  works 
even a fraction as well for me.
 
 
 
As for Bill Haydu, does anyone have photos to post of him and other SPAH  
members we've lost? When I attend SPAH I have myriad wonderful  conversations 
with so many chromatic players but don't necessarily get their  full names. 
It would help to put a name to the face for those of us  who might know him 
and wish to pay our respects?
 
 
 
Elizabeth
 
 
 
"Message: 7
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2012 13:12:41 -0500
From: Joseph Leone  <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bill Haydu RIP / Steel Valley  Harmonica Club
To: George Miklas <harmonicat@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>


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"