Janet Hayes Walker
June 11, 1925-Feb. 20, 1997

Janet Hayes Walker, York Theatre Founder, Dies at 72

Janet Hayes Walker, founder and producing director of York Theatre Company, died Feb. 20 after a long battle with cancer. She was 72.

Billed as Janet Hayes, Walker appeared on Broadway in a number of shows, including the original productions of Damn Yankees, Plain and Fancy, The Golden Apple, The Music Man, Camelot and Anyone Can Whistle. When the latter ended its abbreviated run in 1964, she retired from acting and, except for occasion appearances in regional theatres, devoted herself to taking care of her family.

That lasted five years. The "theatre bug" resurfaced, and she founded the York Theatre Company at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in NYC. It became a popular launching pad for several outstanding musical revivals, notably some composed by the songwriter of Anyone Can Whistle, Stephen Sondheim.

Her resurrections of his Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd (in an intimate chamber version affectionately nicknamed "Teeny Todd") went extra innings before their York liftoffs--into extended engagements at Off-Broadway's Promenade and Broadway's Circle in the Square, respectively. She also revived his Company, A Little Night Music, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and, more recently, the Lucille Lortel Award-winningMerrily We Roll Along.

In addition, the York Theatre Company produced under her aegis acclaimed productions of The Baker's Wife, Colette Collage, The Grass Harp, Lost in the Starsand the Outer Critics Circle Award-winning Carnival.

Walker is survived by her husband, Charles Dodsley Walker, and two children, Peter Hayes Walker and Susan Walker Wyss, and three grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport, CT at 1 PM Feb. 25 and at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Fifth Avenue at 90th St. in NY at 1 PM Feb. 27. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the York Theatre Company, Inc. 619 Lexington Ave., NYC 20022, where a memorial fund is being created in her honor.

-- By Harry Haun

Published in Playbill, 22 Feb 1997 

Charles Dodsley Walker
March 16,1920 - January 17, 2015

Charles Dodsley Walker's musical talent was clear early on: as a youngster in New York City, he sang in the boys choir at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine where he also studied organ. After his first performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion when he was ten, he decided to be a church musician. He never wavered from this decision. 

At age seventeen, when a freshman at Trinity College in Connecticut, he secured his first job as a choir director in a nearby church. After serving with distinction in the U. S. Navy in in 1947. Soon thereafter, Walker was made organist at the American Cathedral in Paris where he met and married American soprano Janet Hayes. Back in New York City by 1950, Walker became organist and choir master at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, remaining there until 1988. In 1952, Walker founded the Canterbury Choral Society, initially an offshoot of the Heavenly Rest music program; Canterbury's unprecedented purpose was to present sacred choral music as originally scored for orchestra with a full volunteer chorus, professional soloists and orchestra, and children's choruses. Over sixty-three years, Canterbury has performed major as well as less well known works by more than ninety composers from the fourteenth through the twentieth centuries; Canterbury established for New York audiences high standards of excellence in a new form of choral performance. 

With his wife Janet, who founded the York Theatre Company in 1969, Walker was at the center of overlapping circles of American musical and cultural life. For thirty-five years, Walker was musical director of the Blue Hill Troupe, conducting all thirteen Gilbert and Sullivan operettas many times over. In addition, in 1982, Walker co-founded the Berkshire Choral Festival and remained associated with it for eighteen years. 

An influential educator, Walker chaired the Music Department at The Chapin School for twenty-four years and served as Organist at the Lake Delaware Boys' Camp from 1940 to 1990. He taught organ and choral conducting at New York University, Manhattan College of Music, S.U.N.Y.-Queens College and Union Theological Seminary. In many leadership roles, including the presidency, in the American Guild of Organists, Walker significantly expanded the organization's national influence and effectiveness; he had been a member since 1937.

After Janet Walker's death in 1997, Walker married Elizabeth Phillips in 2001. Throughout, he continued his demanding work as a church musician, at Trinity Church in Southport, Connecticut and then at St. Luke's Parish in Darien, as well as his vigorous leadership of the Canterbury Choral Society.

Survived by his wife Lise Phillips Walker, daughter Susan Starr Walker, son Peter Hayes Walker and three grandchildren, Charles Dodsley Walker is remembered not just for his wide-ranging professional accomplishments but for his elegant energy, gracious optimism and generous intellect, his convivial, quick wit, and his capacity to enable us all to find the best within ourselves.

Paul Odell Asmus
Jan. 16, 1925-May  25, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:35am Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Paul Odell Asmus, 90, passed away peacefully at home on Monday following a brief illness. He was surrounded by his loving wife, and children. His new journey takes him to a wonderful place where he will be laughing, socializing, singing and watching sports events to his heart’s content. He has been notified that he has successfully completed his mission here; climbed every mountain, fearlessly faced and conquered every battle, and created a legacy in 90 years that most still strive to accomplish. Paul is now promoted into a new, highly honored position of which he will not return. In the meantime, he prepares a place for us to reunite one day.

Paul Odell Asmus

Paul was born on Jan. 16, 1925, in Niles, Michigan to Alfred and Frieda (Exner) Asmus. He graduated from Niles High School. After graduating, Paul went to work at Simplicity Pattern Company. He then went to work at Electro-Voice in Buchanan, Michigan and retired from there after 35 years of employment.

Paul served his community on the Niles City Council for 12 years a first ward Alderman, and six years as third ward Alderman. He was a veteran of World War II having flown forty-two Combat Missions in the 13th Air Force; missions flown in the Southwest Pacific and Philippines. He flew as an aerial engineer gunner aboard a B-24 liberator. He left the Air Force with Military Honors.

On Aug. 21, 1948, Paul married his loving wife of 67 years, Virginia R. Kline, who survives. He and Virginia had three children; Paul W. (Tina) Asmus of Niles, Michigan; Karen S. (Roger) Lovitt of Granger, Indiana; Kevin O. (Debbie) Asmus of Niles. He celebrated his life, and always had smiles and hugs for his 14 grandchildren; Jason (Michelle) Asmus, Joshua (Becky) Asmus, Neil (Heidi) Huff, Ashley (David) Lindley, Andrew (Heather) Osos, D’acia (Brett Parks) Asmus, and Kayla (Dan Lawecki) Asmus; and more hugs for his 17 great-grandchildren Dane, Vaughn, Chloe, Ella, Lily, Emmalee, Lydia, Caden, Adalyn, Owen, Dylan, Clay, Connor, Carter, Arleigh, and Emmitt. Paul is survived by his sisters Charlene Fein and Patricia Cloutier, both of Niles.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Frieda Asmus, a sister Edith Frucci, and a brother Richard Asmus.

He was a 75-year member of Saint John’s United Church of Christ, where he served his church in many capacities.

Paul was a devoted husband and father who would (and did) everything for his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His face always came alive with smiles when his family was present. He spent his time enjoying air shows. There was not a sports event in Niles or out of town that Paul wasn’t sitting in the bleachers rooting his favorite team or family member. He was a true, blue and gold Viking fan.

Funeral Services for Paul Asmus will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2015, at Saint John’s United Church of Christ in Niles with the Rev. Raymond Fulbright of the church, officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Paul may be made to Saint John’s United Church of Christ, the Niles High School Athletic Department, or to the donor’s choice.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Louisa E. Corwin
Nov. 11, 1855-Dec. 8, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 11, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  CORWIN RITES HELD TUESDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Louisa E. Corwin, 90, a former resident of Niles, who died Sunday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ida Sander, St. Joseph, were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Sander home.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery here. Mrs. Corwin was born in Niles, Nov. 11, 1855, and was the widow of Myron Corwin, who she married in 1875.  Survivers, besides the daughter, are four sisters―Mrs. Joseph Cuddeback, Niles; Mrs. Bert Powers, Hartford; Mrs. C.L. Dilley, Berrien Springs, and Mrs. Albert Kuppernus, Elkhart, and a brother, Edward Benhard, Niles.

Charles A. Johnson
Feb. 8, 1865-Dec. 23, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 24, 1935, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles A. Johnson, Ex-Niles Man, Dies

Charles A. Johnson, 538 East Thirty-fourth street, Chicago, died Monday afternoon at his home after a prolonged illness.

Mr. Johnson was born in Niles, Feb. 8, 1865, but for the last 25 years had been a resident of Chicago.

Besides his widow, Bertie H. Johnson, he is survived by one son, Alfred A. Johnson, of Niles.

Funeral services will be held in Chicago Thursday morning and the body will be brought to Silverbrook cemetery, Niles, for burial.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 26, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  FORMER RESIDENT BURIED

The body of Charles A. Johnson, 80, former resident of Niles, was brought to Niles from Chicago today and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery, where a brief prayer service was held.  Mr. Johnson was the father of Alfred H. Johnson, of Niles.  He leaves also one grandson, John Johnson, of Niles.  The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiated at the service in Silverbrook.

Thomas Kelley
1889-Dec. 13, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 13, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  TOM KELLEY STRICKEN

Funeral arrangements for Tom Kelley, 46, a former employe at The Grill, have not been announced. Mr. Kelley died at 9:30 this morning at Pawating hospital. He was taken to the hospital Monday suffering from serious complications that proved fatal. He had been working until about a week ago.  He leaves no close relatives.