Louis J. Williford

Louis J. (Jack) Williford of Brookfield, 69, died February 23 at Danbury Hospital.

A prominent piano teacher in the Danbury area for many years, he taught at the Westport School of Music during his early years in Connecticut before establishing his present home and studio in Brookfield. Many of his students over the years were from Newtown.

Mr Williford was the son of the late Fannie May (Russell) and Louis J. Williford of Farmville, N.C. He graduated from Farmville High School and studied piano with Elizabeth Drake of Greenville, N.C., with whom he has kept in touch through the years and who survives him. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from East Carolina University in Greenville and his master’s degree in music from Florida State University at Tallahassee, where he also studied with the celebrated Hungarian pianist and composer Ernst von Dohnanyi.

Mr Williford served in the Army Signal Corps and accompanied the Army Chorus during his tour of duty. He was at the piano when the chorus performed at the White House during the Eisenhower years and also when the chorus performed on the Ed Sullivan Show.

An accomplished pianist, he gave a duo-piano recital with Aggie Filgate at St Peter Church in Danbury that drew an audience of more than 900.

Mr Williford was involved for many years with The Sherman Players and was pianist and music director in 1962 when Sherman produced the first staging outside of New York City of The Threepenny Opera, Kurt Weill’s musical adaptation of Bertold Brecht’s masterpiece, and for other musicals in Sherman and various regional theaters over the years.

A former judge for the National Piano Guild Auditions, Mr Williford was much sought after for both his expertise and his superior knowledge of piano literature.

Mr Williford is survived by his sister, Barbara Owens and her husband Neal Owens of Virginia Beach, Va., their two sons, Claude and Neal, Jr, four great-nieces, one great-nephew, and scores of loyal friends and students.

A Memorial Service was held February 26 at the Williford Studio in Brookfield. Contributions in Mr Williford’s memory may be made to The Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company, Inc (includes the Ambulance Corps), PO Box 5111, Brookfield CT 06804.

The Newtown Bee        March 5, 2004