William "Bill" Finn '74

3 comments on William "Bill" Finn '74

1. We all seemed to know that Bill was the stuff of legend…singing and pounding loudly away on pianos across campus–his voice echoing down the halls, long before he came into view. That droll sense of humor of his, a sweetness under the gruff demeanor. He loved our class, and we loved him back. He went to every class alumni event he could, and his absence will be painfully missed.

   One of my most proud moments at Williams was having a small chorus role in Sizzle, his now-famous 1971 main stage production, the first totally original student-written musical at Williams since Sondheim in 1948. Gosh it was fun, and Bill had very exacting notions of what he envisioned. I remember his going over a line repeatedly with me until I had just the singsong cadence he wanted with a strong emphasis on “di”: “It’s a Dii-no-saur!” I’ll always remember that laugh of his, a kind of loud guffaw, giggle, inhaled squeak–totally unique like him through and through. Are those angels singing and dancing yet, Bill?

2. Although we were not in the same circles at Williams, I always admired Bill as a creative force. This only grew as I experienced his work. The Putnam County Spelling Bee is brilliant and so much fun and as I watched Elegies, a Song Cycle, I felt like my inner life was changing in real time. Then, nearly 20 years ago, while visiting Jeff and Hy in Vermont, we went to an annual event in Pittsfield where Bill supported and championed evolving playwrights and composers in local theater. It was fabulous to hang with him and experience his enormous generosity and heart. I am very thankful to have known Bill and pray that his spirit is completely free.

3. I had little direct contact with Bill, other than his constant presence at the Baxter piano. He was in my English 101 class with Professor Reichert. A memory of that has stayed with me. We were reading Shakespeare’s sonnet, “My Lover’s Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun.” I was struck by the humor and cleverness of its satirizing the sonnet form and spirit. Bill spoke up, with his gravelly passionate voice to say, “It’s so beautiful.” I’m not sure anyone other then him would have seen that.