Date of death: 5/12/2013
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1951
William A. Zopfi of south Toledo passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg. He was born in Toledo, Ohio to Thomas J. and Helen Zopfi on August 6, 1926. Bill was a graduate of Central Catholic High School and was a career Musician and organist for 71 years. Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1945-47, and was stationed in Seoul, Korea where he played piano with the 282nd Army Ground Forces Dance Band and helped coordinate USO units.After discharge, Bill became a roller rink organist and played at the Rollercade Skating Rink for 14 years until moving to Cleveland, OH. He was the first organist for St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church and also played at some of the better nightclubs in Toledo, including Ralph Long’s Town Club, Le Roux’s Billyle and Le Roux’s Supper Club.Bill moved to Cleveland in 1962 to play the Pipe Organ at The Palace Theater until they closed in the 70’s when he began playing at Baratko’s Lounge in Lakewood. He was also the organist at St. Clement Church in Lakewood, OH from 1964-1987 and at the Winterhurst Ice Skating Rink until resigning in 1987.Bill moved home to Toledo to care for his mother. Bill and his mom loved to travel and took many wonderful trips together to California, the Rocky Mountains, Florida, Atlantic Canada, New England and other places in the eastern United States. After his mothers passing in 1988, Bill then became active as a church organist again serving at St. James Church and substituting at St. Charles and Rosary Cathedral, where he was also a member of the parish. He was a longtime member of the Toledo Chapter of The American Guild of Organists.Bill was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Thomas Richard Zopfi. He is survived by his dear friends, Gary and Lyn Baratko, Joe Simon and by several cousins.Friends may call at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, 2535 Collingwood Blvd., on Friday, May 17, 2013, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at a later date at Maplewood Cemetery.walterfuneralhome.comPublished in Toledo Blade on May 16, 2013.