Wednesday, March 2, 2022
I have known William since 1978, when I first came to his salon. At the time, he was a noted stylist of "theatre hair," for actresses in roles requiring a particular look or period style. While I wasn't an actor, I was a playwright and therefore knew his reputation from actress friends and stage designers. I remained his and Zorka's client to this day-- more than four decades-- and last spoke to William on the phone several months ago. He was the same William I've known for more than half my life.
Anybody who ever encountered William, either then or up until his retirement from active participation at the salon, knows what a uniquely talented artist he was, as well as an irrepressible, wickedly funny and incredibly warm person, full of gusto and opinions--and jokes. William could come up with a joke for any occasion, a "human joke machine," as he liked to call himself. He delighted in having a client suggest a subject or celebrity name, so that he could immediately come back with an appropriate (or sometimes naughtily INappropriate) joke from his huge repertoire of (I believe he claimed) 10,000 jokes, all kept in his head.
I know how much he cared about his children, his clients and colleagues and-- of course-- Janet. Her loss was devastating to him, and yet his love of living and of THE living was strong enough to see him through. I hope that Jamie, Alexander and Mariam will draw on that strength at this time of heartbreaking loss. William was a bright light, beloved of many people, and we will all miss him, none more than his adored children and Zorka, his colleague and friend and bulwark for so many years. With sympathy for all,
Erika Ritter
Toronto
