A couple of people asked me to append my talk from Bill's memorial service, so here it is:

I’m Kristen Kessler from Mercury Opera Rochester and I feel privileged to have known Bill. He was one of the founders of the opera chorus group that some of us started in the late 90s, and I got to know him very well as he became a board member and the treasurer, as well as continuing to perform with us. We sang together both in the chorus and regularly in quartets, we worked together on the finances of the group and numerous other issues, and we also ran and hiked together occasionally. I got to know Bill mostly through the good times, but I really came to appreciate him in the many struggles that the group had. In all the difficult times that we went through, Bill had an amazing ability to listen to very emotionally charged discussions, stay calm, manage the conversation, and keep everything in perspective. He had a serious side which he managed to keep under cover most of the time, but when you needed it, he was amazingly even-tempered and thoughtful.

I also appreciate Bill’s other side – the lighter side. Like many of us in the opera, Bill liked to dress up and make a fool of himself on stage. In looking through the Mercury Opera photos earlier this week, I was impressed with the number of different soldier costumes and peasant costumes that he wore. (The chorus regularly appears as either soldiers or peasants.) He was a blast to be staged with because he was never a stiff, never nervous, and he always knew his music. Sometimes he was still learning it in the dressing room beforehand, but by the time we got to the stage he had it down. He was a consummate flirt, especially on stage, and rarely missed an opportunity to have a laugh, or to go on a new adventure. He was a true energizer bunny and I still have no idea how he managed to fit in everything that he did.

Never one to miss a party, Bill was always the first one to volunteer to drive me home from the cast party when I had one glass of wine too many. That generally happens at about a glass and a half of wine, so over the years there were many varied opportunities for me to use his chauffeur services. He had a great sense of humor, and his energy, determination, and adventures were an inspiration to all of us.

The chorus of Mercury Opera Rochester had a concert last weekend, performing party scenes from a number of different operas. It seemed fitting that we dedicate those performances to him, because as we all know, Bill loved a party. And of course, Bill would have wanted to have a beer (or several) with us after the concert, so we did go out afterward to shed a tear together and raise a glass in his honor.

I sang with him, I worked with him, I ran with him, and I hiked with him. I’m sure he was just as surprised to find himself on the other side of this life as we were to find him gone from us. Bill was a great friend and I will miss him terribly.