Milton Williams, father of Vanessa Williams, dies at 70
deb...@comcast.net
January 19, 2006, 3:01 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) _ Milton Williams, father of actress-singer Vanessa
Williams and a music teacher for 43 years at the same Westchester grade
school, has died at age 70.
Williams died Tuesday at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla from a
pancreatic infection that was discovered two days earlier during a
Bahamas vacation, his daughter said in a statement released by a
publicist.
"He made a lasting impression on everyone he met and truly changed the
lives of all the students he taught," Vanessa Williams said. "We will
miss his warm smile, big hugs, and constant encouragement."
Milton Williams, who lived in Millwood, retired in 2003 from the Alice
E. Grady Elementary School in Elmsford, where he had taught music to
more than 10,000 children and served as assistant principal.
Gary Crew, a fifth-grade teacher there who had known Williams since
1969, said Williams was "a legend, an institution. He was a very
committed professional, very committed to children."
Born and raised in Oyster Bay, Long Island, Williams began his music
career by playing tenor saxophone in the high school band and in the
Army Band while stationed in South Korea. He eventually mastered and
taught saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, flute, oboe and French horn, as
well as drums and piano.
Williams also sang tenor in the Westchester Baroque Choir and was
president of the Westchester County School Music Association.
Besides his daughter, Williams is survived by his wife of 45 years,
Helen Williams; a son, Christopher Williams; a brother, two sisters and
four grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday at the Alexander Hamilton
High School in Elmsford.
Vanessa Williams has appeared on Broadway in the revival of Stephen
Sondheim's musical "Into The Woods" and in "Kiss of the Spider Woman."