July 2007 WONG Notes

The Celebration of the Life of Thommie Walsh

ACT ONE, Scene One

The Celebration of the Wake and Musical Story Telling

It was a sunny day in Auburn, NY at The Springside Inn --- the dinner theater where Thommie Walsh had danced as a kid. It was HIS day, June 22, 2007; six days from the time he took flight and decided to dance and fly among the angels and seven months after his stay in the hospital and in the rehabilitation center in New York City. Before his transition, he was going home to Owasco Lake to be with his mother Ellie and his sister Barbara to plant flowers and watch the sunsets over the lake. There was a long line forming outside the door of the Springside Inn. Everyone was waiting in anticipation to see what the star of Auburn had in store for them. Syracuse's Channel 10 had cameras everywhere and reporters were interviewing his grade school friends and High School buddies, while neighbors and friends from New York were being interviewed by the Auburn and Syracuse newspapers. All of this hustle and bustle was in the air while show tunes from all of the shows he had been in or worked on were playing in the background. It felt like the opening of a Broadway show. Critics as well as fans were waiting in anticipation to see the outcome and waiting over one hour. It was four o'clock and the doors should have opened. Then came 4:05... 4:10... What's going on in there? At 4:15, we finally saw the funeral director Mike O'Gorman opening the door. As we entered Stage Right, we saw that we had to travel in an oval-shaped line. The first thing to see was a huge painting of Thommie in Black and White. The painting portrayed him in his A Chorus Line "Bobby" costume, standing against a mirror. It startled me and at the same time it took my breath away, because it was so life-like. We were then ushered along the right wall where we looked at 12 framed theater posters of all of the shows he had worked on or had danced in. After the last one, we were greeted by Cheryl Foster, who asked us to sign in, after which Pam Kirkwood gave us laminated prayer cards. On the card was a photo of Thommie and the dates 1950- 2007. On the other side it said: LOVE YOU MADLY. We then saw a small photo of the cover of his paperback book --- a top hat and shoes on the white line, in a white spot. Below was his very distinct signature: Thommie Walsh. We were then ushered across the room where we were in front of a 52'' TV screen that was showing a slide show of 150 photos from Thommie's childhood, including family, Broadway family and pictures of famous ladies for whom he had choregraphed: Chita, Mitzi Gaynor, Ann-Margret and on and on. We then made our way down the other wall towards the stage and we saw 12 more posters and photos of Thommie with his Tony Awards. At the end we were greeted by his mother Ellie and his sister Barbara. We gave our condolences and we saw that they were truly celebrating Thommie's life with dignity and style. There was a large poster of Thommie in a white suit, surrounded by flowers on Stage Left. He always considered this his GQ poster. We then walked to the center of the small stage to a closed black-lacquered casket with silver handles. The casket was standing vertically. On top, in the center, we saw Thommie's A Chorus Line Top Hat and his beige patent-leather shoes. To make all of this complete, there was one red rose lying across the brim of his hat and his shoes. Directly on either side of the casket were two colored pin spots lighting his hat and his shoes as well as his two Tony Awards, his two Drama Desk Awards and the cane that was featured above and behind the casket. Flowers surrounded Thommie Walsh as we noticed his book "On The Line" also displayed with flowers.

ACT ONE, Scene Two

When the 530 people or more had gone down the line and seen all they wanted and needed to see, The Springside Inn had its dinning room and several bars open to accommodate everyone who wanted to stay to hear the Musical Story Telling.

THE PROGRAM:
1) IRMA BAKER: Thommie's first dance teacher, who is 92 years old.
2) Anya Turner and Robert: Composer and lyricist whom Thommie encouraged to write a show that he was directing.
3) Mitzi Hamilton: Told stories of their trip to Hawaii with ACL.
4) Edye Cook: Dance teacher from Ohio, brought three students for whom Thommie had choreographed a number. They performed to "Mack the Knife."
5) Ed Syles: Artistic director of the Merry-Go-Round Theater in Auburn, NY spoke about meeting Thommie 25 years ago.
6) Phan Peterson: Spoke about having met Thommie on Dance Caravan at the age of 14, and having assisted him on several shows, such as ALWAYS, in London.
7) Robert Viagas: Co-author of the book On the Line with Thommie Walsh.
8) Laura Kenyon: Sang "Never to See You Again."
9) Fran Liebergal: Told stories and played "Never, Never Land."
10) Baayork Lee: Read messages from Donna McKechnie, Lucie Arnaz and Luis Villabon, as well as "The Ten Commandments of Life According to Thommie Walsh" which he read at his Auburn High School Graduation Commencement Ceremony.
11) Kelly Bishop: Told Priscilla Lopez and Thommie stories.
12) Michael Gorman: Performed the Bobby Monologue from ACL while Fran Liebergal played the underscoring.

ACT TWO, Scene One
The Church and The Cemetery

Sacred Heart Church on Melrose Road was filled to the brim for the Catholic ceremony. When we arrived, we were once again greeted by Cheryl, who asked us to sign the book. We were then given our PLAYBILL so we knew our cast of characters. The cover read: "CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF THOMMIE WALSH." Under that, there was a photo of Thommie, with his name and the years 1950-2007. Then: "The Sacred Heart Church, June 23, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. When we opened the program, the left side read: "A Celebration of the Life of THOMMIE WALSH 1950-2007."
Celebrant - Reverend James Enright
Pastoral Administrator - Sister Chris Treichel OSF
Organist - Anne Adessa
Pallettes - Baayork Lee, Kelly Bishop, M.J. Dobson, Mitzi Hamilton, Anya Turner, Edye Cook, Pricscilla Lopez, Kate Draper, Laura Kenyon, Cynthia Onrubia, Phan Peterson, Fran Liebergal
At the bottom of the page was a tiny photo of the cover of Thommie's paperback book, "On The Line" with a top hat and patent-leather shoes in a white spot light on the white line.
The right side of the program read:
Entrance - "It's Not Where You Start It's Where you Finish"- Todd Lattimore
Greeting - Sister Chris
Words of Remembrance - Baayork Lee, Tommy Tune
First Reading - Jane Walsh
Responsorial Psalm - "On Eagle's Wings" - sung by Ann Adessa
Second Reading - Valerie Stone
Gospel
Homily
Prayers of the Faithful - Peggy Walsh
Presentation of the Gifts- Matt Goff, Holly Walsh Gardner, Laurie Scriven, Pamela Righter, Mary Jo Boardman, Amy Morgan
Preparation of the Gifts - "Ave Maria" - Cely Carrillo
Communion Song - "What I Did For Love" - Priscilla Lopez
Recessional - "One Singular Sensation"
Committal Service - St Joesph's Cemetery Fleming, New York

On the back of the program we saw an oval photo of Thommie, his parents (Jits and Ellie) and sister Barbara on a hay ride. Underneath in quotes it said: "Look for me in the sunset, I'll be there" and his signature: Thommie Walsh.

ACT TWO, Scene Two

The ride to the cemetery took us a while as there were sixty or more cars lined up to start the parade to City Hall. On the way, we passed The Shine Theater, where we saw a huge photo of Thommie with the dates 1950-2007, and a photo of the marquee of the show MY ONE AND ONLY which also read: "Co-Director and Choreographer, THOMMIE WALSH." As we continued to head downtown, we passed City Hall where we saw a top hat, patent-leather shoes and cane on the lawn. The bells above started to ring: "What a Send-Off!" Arriving at the cemetery we were each given red, black and white balloons (100 total). The all-female pall bearers carried the casket to the site. After Father James said his prayers, we were given handfuls of silver and gold glitter that Thommie loved so much. We all threw it onto his casket which was sparkling. We turned our eyes to the sky and witnessed the release of thirty-seven white doves --- one for each year of his life in show business and let our ballons drift to the heavens. We then broke out into song, singing "THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUISNESS" and saying our good-byes to our beloved THOMMIE WALSH.

ACT THREE, Scene One

We all headed up to The Springside Inn, where they were preparing lunch for us. In several smaller intimate rooms, we watched videos of Thommie teaching at the Dance Caravan Convention and at the Kit Andree Dance Studio in Colorado. We lunched on chicken ceasar salad, cheese soufleé, and fresh fruit salad. We then finally met all of the Walsh Family, including John from "America's Most Wanted" and sister Jane, the jazz singer. It was a very talkative group and we got to know a little more about our Thommie, including the mischievous things he did with his 2nd-grade girlfriend. His High School prom date told us her tales and so many more wonderful stories and memories.

ACT THREE, Scene Two

We then gathered up the New York crowd and some of the Walsh Family, and we headed out to Owasco Lake to see the beautiful home Thommie had bought for his parents. We roamed the grounds and drank in all of the beauty he had seen all of these years and we knew why he always loved coming home. The trees and the flowers he planted last year were in bloom and we saw the lake he loved so much, with the sunshine sparkling on the water. He is truly home. Now it was time to head back to the city. We said our last good-byes to Ellie and to Barbara and we told them how much we will miss him. We looked back at the lake to say to Walsh: LOVE YOU MADLY. SEE YOU AT EVERY SUNSET. SLEEP WITH THE ANGELS.

Baayork