In Memoriam - William B. Fosser
William B. Fosser, 77, of Edison Park. Beloved son of the late Eleanor and William S. Fosser. Loving brother of Timothy (the late Emmy) and Thomas (Joan) Fosser. Proud uncle of Daniel, Linda, Kathleen, William G., Jeanine, Joseph and Elizabeth. Great uncle of Caroline and Trevor. Bill was a member of the Studio Set Designers Union, Local 476. He spent years in the industry working on film projects such as “Ordinary People,” “Home Alone,”, “Backdraft,” “Omen II,” and “Ground Hog Day.” Bill’s life passion was being a puppeteer and he was inducted into the National Puppeteers Hall of Fame in December, 2005. Memorials to the Passionist Monastery, 5700 N. Harlem Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631, appreciated. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
The theater remains open and active, please support us by attending.
Memories
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August 28, 2006 |
 | I remember his outstanding work,
and his creative artistc ability to make people feel good and have
greater appreciation for life.
Always enjoyed his company and
attitude for better things. We were blessed to have him in our life.
Love From, Jerry and wife Josie Mortell
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Jerry Mortell (green
Valley, AZ) |
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July 1, 2006 |
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I am sorry I have missed meeting
Bill. However, I am bringing my daughter to see Opera in Focus and
see his wonderful puppets. |
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Mary Horsley
(Mechanicsville, VA) |
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April 10, 2006 |
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Worked with Bill on a couple of
movies and he showed me his puppets and it was like watching living
breathing beings. Will miss you Bill. |
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Chuck O'Donnell (Chicago,
IL) |
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April 8, 2006 |
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We met Bill a few years back while
on a visit and loved him from the moment we saw him.
Warm,
sweet, funny.
Living literally oceans apart, this was a rare and
precious occasion that we will cherish in our memories.
Harry
and Tineke Oudekerk/ The Netherlands |
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April 7, 2006 |
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I didn't know Bill long enough—did
any of us know him long enough? A fan of puppetry all my life, I
nevertheless did nothing with it until I met Gigi Sandberg through
my interest in toy theater, and it was Gigi—long distance from
Mississippi—who introduced me to Bill, who was right here in my
backyard!
I had been privileged to see one production at the old
Kungsholm all those years ago—Hansel and Gretel it was—and I
remembered it fondly. Now here it was again, in Rolling Meadows, of
all places! Along with hosts of wonderfully gowned and articulated
little people living in gorgeously designed worlds. Singing sublime
music. How very soul-satisfying!
I'm so thankful I had a chance
to be Bill's friend, if only for a few years. We did manage to go to
the theater and to an art exhibit in Wisconsin, and we did manage to
share lots of lunches and dinners with delightful, funny, and even
inspiriing conversation. Bill was always looking for ways to
increase Opera in Focus attendance, especially for young people, and
one idea he hit upon was to create a series of children's shows. To
that end I wrote the book and lyrics of a puppet version of
Rumpelstiltskin, and a musical collaborator had almost completed the
score. Bill knew we were never going to finish the show—he was
getting sicker and sicker and we still had to find actor/singers and
a recording technician and musical orchestrations and so on. But he
had started working on the designs and once sketched for me what the
scenes would look like on the Opera in Focus stage. We'll never see
them realized now.
Goodbye, Bill. I'll miss your sense of humor,
your non-negtiable artistic pronouncements, your sense of joy at the
unlimited beauty in the world of art. I'll miss a good friend.
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Don Abramson (Skokie,
IL) |
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April 4, 2006 |
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I had lost track of Bill for many
years. This was my fault. Bill came into my life on one of the first
commercials I ever photographed. He was the entire Art department.
We bacame fast friends. And when I married my first wife he was just
as good a friend to her as to me.
I am now sitting here in
Hollywood and Bill's name poped into my head. I haven't thought of
him in years. I realized that the phone number I've had for him was
probably not correct. So I looked on the internet and forund the
very sad news that I had just missed him. How terrible for me, how
sad for all of us. He was a great artist and a better firend than
me. |
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Steven Poster ASC
(Hollywood, CA) |
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March 27, 2006 |
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Our very belated deepest sympathy
to your entire family.We are the son and daughter-in-law of Bernie
Devine (son of Bert and Babe Devine). Bernie had good memories of
Bill, he often spoke about how much fun he had working with Bill. We
are sorry for your loss and our prayers are with you during this
very difficult time.
Jim and Melody Devine |
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Jim and Melody Devine
(Hawthorn Woods, IL) |
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March 20, 2006 |
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My memories of Bill go back to the
1940's when I was a student at Northwestern and Bill was head
puppeteer at the Kungsholm...my favorite place to go on a date. I
learned from him that all is not foolishness in puppetry...that
truly beautiful things are possible and I have enjoyed the craft
significantly ever since. Bill and I have been very close friends
for all these many years. Bill received the Presiden't Award at the
2005 National Festival of Puppeteers of America,,,recognition he had
deserved for so very long!! The person who told me of this news
described Bill at this event by saying that "he just couldn't stop
smiling!",,,and I will always have this mental picture of Bill to
remember. My husband, Glen, and I will miss Bill greatly and hope we
can help keep Opera In Focus alive. |
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gigi sandberg (gulfport,
MS) |
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March 9, 2006 |
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I had the privildge of helping Bill
establish his Opera in Focus in Rolling Meadows.He was truly happy
to have had a home to perform his talents and he brought much to the
community over the years.He was a true gentleman and had outstanding
talent.I lost a very good friend and I truly hope his performances
continue forever.....Denny York. |
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Dennis York (Sheridan,
IL) |
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March 9, 2006 |
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MY BELATED SINCEREST SYMPATHY TO
THE FAMILY. I KNEW OF MR. FOSSER ONLY THROUGH OPERA IN FOCUS AND HE
WAS A VERY SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL FOR THOSE OF US WHO MET HIM AT THESE
PRODUCTIONS. MAY GOD GIVE HIM A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN HEAVEN
SERENADED BY THE VOICES AND MUSIC HE HAD GIVEN US ......LEONARD
ROGUS |
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LEONARD ROGUS (BENSENVILLE,
IL) |
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February 27, 2006 |
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Bill Fosser, gentelman, artist and
master puppeteer.
The Chicaoland Puppetry Guild, Inc. wishes to
extend its sympathy to Bill's family and friends. Puppetry has lost
an artist of great abililty. His "Opera In Focus" was a masterful
contribution to the art. |
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Fred Putz (Highland Park,,
IL) |
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February 25, 2006 |
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bill was a caring and kind person i
only with more people were like him teh opera in focus will never be
the same with out him god bless u |
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February 24, 2006 |
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Dear Tom & Joan, I'm sorry I
didn't make the service. I didn't see the obit until late Thursday
night. Bill was such a gentlemen. I have fond memories of Bill.In
the 60's after we got out of the Marine Corps we would have a night
on the town and I would stay at your house and Bill would have his
opera music on and it was beautiful. Another occasion I remember he
was putting on his puppet opera in a store front on the northside on
Broadway for the nuns at the local church. The puppets didn't behave
and you could hear O! S. Your sorrow is mine and everyone that knew
him. |
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Tom O'Neil (Indian Head
Park, IL) |
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February 24, 2006 |
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My family and I extend our prayers
for your family during this most difficult time. Your loss is ours
as well because Bill was loved by many Chicagoans near and far. We
visited Kungsholm many times, years ago, and recently "found" Bill
again in Rolling Meadows. We started attending the Opera in Focus
shows with our son, Mark. Bill was a true gentleman. We loved his
"behind the scene" tours. I hope his legacy lives on through the
continuation of his beloved puppet show. May Bill rest in peace.
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Rosanne Mastroianni (Park
Ridge, IL) |
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February 23, 2006 |
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We were so sorry to hear the news
of Bill's passing. He was such a dear man. We had the pleasure of
working with him at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse on one of his
favorite shows, Phantom. We will miss him. Rudy Hogenmiller(Artistic
Director of Light Opera Works) and Jim Harms(actor) |
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Rudy Hogenmiller (St. Anne,
IL) |
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February 23, 2006 |
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Bill was one of the few people in
our profesion that truly deserved the title master puppeteer.I feel
blessed to have known and worked with Bill for nearly twenty five
years. Bill was also bar none the bravest man I ever knew.To face
adversity by creating beauty for others to wonder at is an act of
true selflessness.
Sincerely,
Dave Herzog |
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David Herzog (Chicago,
IL) |
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February 22, 2006 |
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Five generations of my family
visited Kungsholm and Opera In Focus. Bill's dedication and love of
making beautiful productions will live forever in our minds. He
really embodied someone who lived life to the fullest. We enjoyed
our private time with him as well, who knew he liked Chinese food so
much. |
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The Kaufmans (Riverwoods,
IL) |
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February 22, 2006 |
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Bill Fosser was an unique and
fascinating man who was so creative and appreciative of beauty that
he brought hours of beauty and enjoy-
ment with the productions
of Opera
in Focus. My sister, Marilynn, and
I spent many happy
hours with Bill
and his friends at Opera in Focus
and were
privileged to visit him at
his home at Christmastime. He
will
be greatly missed! |
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Geraldine Bowman (Mount
Prospect, IL) |
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February 22, 2006 |
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Tim and I are so sorry to hear of
the death of your talented and dearly loved brother Bud,Millie and
Tim |
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Tim and Millie Hanrahan
(Fort Myers, FL) |
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February 22, 2006 |
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Bill was a very thoughtful
and
special person. I so enjoyed talking with him and of course I
will always remember the times I saw "Opera in Focus." We will
miss
him. |
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Brian & Rivka Weiner
(Skokie, IL) |
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February 22, 2006 |
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My wife, Judy, and I would like to
express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of William
B. Fosser. We knew Bill for nearly 30 years and will always be
thankful and proud to have been his friends. Over the years, we
attended many plays and movies with Bill, and shared many Christmas
Eve and New Year's
Day dinners both at our home and at his. We
also were privileged to briefly work with Bill as puppeteers at his
Opera in Focus, and my wife helped with some of the puppet costumes.
We will miss him very much. He was a true original and a true
friend. |
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George Thomson (Chicago,
IL) |
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