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Bill was a distinguished member of the Sarasota Chapter of FOFF, later to become the Sarasota Folk Club. He was on the board of both organizations from inception in 1987 to 2006. Jean and Bill were involved with the beginnings of FOFF in 1982. Together they started the FOFF Booth and kept it going from then to now. They have won several awards including the Florida State Folk Heritage Award in 1992, and the Thelma Boltin Folk Community Service Award. They have been attending the Florida Folk Festival for over 35 consecutive years. It would be hard to recall any major folk event in Florida without having memories of Bill and Jean sitting back and enjoying the music, sharing with kindred spirits, always encouraging and supportive of folk artists throughout the state. In his earlier years, you might be able to persuade Bill to sing "Jimmy Brown, Newsboy of the Town" or other classic folk songs. For many years, Bill and Jeanhave hosted a monthly folk jam at their Sarasota home.
No memorial services are scheduled. Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Florida Folk, c/o Snyder, 337 Hillcrest St., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701; or to Sarasota Folk Club, c/o Kahn, 5625 Evergreen Drive, Sarasota, FL 34233.
On Sunday March 18 at Longwood Park in Sarasota...3-7 pm there will be a potluck and jam to visit and celebrate his life.
Survivors include his wife, Jean V.; daughters Judith Seifert of Combs, Ark., and Jeanne Sicard of Sarasota; stepdaughters Patricia Gormley and Jan Buncik of Sarasota; sons William of Bradenton and Donald of Longboat Key; stepsons Peter and Michael Gormley of Sarasota; a brother, Paul Hewitt of Huntington, Pa.; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
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Videos created by Jim Dunn
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