Unexpectedly, on December 20, 2015 our friend Bill Engle left to celebrate Christmas with his heavenly Father. A committed and practicing Christian, all of his life, Bill always knew his final destination. Born June 22, 1943 to Harvey Roosevelt and Florence Carolyn (Crofoot) Engle, Bill grew up in Niagara Falls, New York. He moved to Indiana to attend Butler University to pursue a degree in music. Both music and Butler University were two great loves of his life. Graduating in 1965, from the Butler Jordan College of Music with a Baccalaureate degree in Piano performance, Bill continued his studies of music history and sacred music at Christian Theological Seminary earning a Masters Degree in Music. Bill was a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Rather than return to New York, Bill stayed in Indiana, in the state he had come to love. During his fertile life, Bill worked at multiple endeavors. For fifteen years, Bill was President and Chief Recruiter of William Engle Associates, an executive search firm (1971 to 1986). Following his artistic sense, he owned and directed the William Engle Galleries, (1980 to 2003). Bill always had a fine eye for not just paintings, but books, ceramics, photography, metal sculpture and works on paper. Bill had a broad reach to artisans across the country. He brought art to Indiana that was unfamiliar to his fellow Hoosiers.
Throughout his life, Bill’s engagement with music and keyboards consumed a great deal of his time. He conducted choirs, accompanied performers, played concerts, directed programs, composed special compositions and even found time to teach students keyboard skills. He was the chief musician for many churches throughout the Central Indiana church community. Bill was a member of the United Methodist Churches, but he played for many denominations. He was proficient on many different organs, and served as a resource to fledgling church musicians. Bill was an early adopter of the electronic synthesizer which he quickly mastered. Friends were used to seeing Bill tote the larger instrument to musical events. In fact, his choice of automobile was determined by its ability to transport his rather generous synthesizer. Bill was active in planning the music for many large church gatherings across various denominations. He was known for being able to bring musicians of mixed skill levels together and achieving greater results.
Bill was a master carilloneur (Member of Guild of Carilloneurs in North America). He played concerts, year-long, on the Mrs. James Irving Holcomb Memorial Carillon at Butler University. Bill also served as carilloneur at Scottish Rite Cathedral, Coxhall Gardens, West Point, and various other invited events. He directed and organized the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Scottish Rite Carillon. Bill continued his study of the Carillon, attending classes and instructing throughout the country, all of his life.
Bill served on staff at Butler University as a lyric pianist. He served as accompanist to classical ballet classes at the Jordan College Academy of Dance. Ballet students, at Jordan, learned to count on his dependable accompaniment to hone their skills. Bill also played for the younger ballerinas at Expressenz Dance Center. His love of music and dance grew, so that in recent years, he had expanded this love to spend summer intensives at The Dance Theatre of Harlem, Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, The Ruffo-Cholewa Russian Workshop, The Tevlin Project, and workshops for high school students through Indiana University.
Bill’s last four years were consumed with creating, developing, funding, and nurturing his most ambitious project, Dance Partners, a multiyear international dance and music collaboration through Partners of the Americas with Brazil that premiered at the Indy Fringe with its first work, Colaboracao. Bill served as Co-Chair of Cultural Outreach of Indiana Partners of the Americas (Brazil Partner State, Rio Grande do Sul). He not only traveled extensively to the Partner state in Brazil to make music, dance presentations, organize exchange programs, but he also traveled to other parts of Brazil to enrich the entire Partners hemispheric network in the arts and education. Bill always gravitated to opportunities to mentor and support young people, novice dancers, young scholars, musicians, and Youth Ambassadors from Brazil. In 2014, Bill introduced the Partners seminal project to expand and create sustainability for the Canta Brasil youth empowerment program, founded by his good friend and Brazilian dancer, Rubielson Medeiros. The goal was to help youth in poverty, inspired by dance and music, achieve education, self-dignity, discipline and life objectives. Bill guided the Brazilian students, studying at Butler, in their artistic improvement. It was not uncommon for him to take his apprentice students, while studying in the United States, to holiday dinners at his friend’s homes. He wanted them to not feel alone, so far from home. He leaves a hole in the Partners program and our international community by his departure.
Although Bill never had children, he developed a family of his own out of the many friends he collected throughout his life. He leaves to cherish his memory Carl, Brenda, Lolly, Chip, Jhani, Sharon, John, and Rubi. There is not room here to list all of the names of friends or the accomplishments Bill achieved during his life. Bill lived a rich, full life. He always had a unique perspective on events. As a group, we will miss that. But we are comforted by the knowledge that Bill has moved on to a bigger piano and better music. A celebration of Bill’s life will be on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Harry Moore Chapel, 8151 Allisonville Road, with calling from noon until 2:00 pm concluding in a formal service at 2:00 pm. There will be refreshments afterwards where Bill’s friends and colleagues can share “Bill” stories. Memorial contributions to continue Bill’s work with youth can be made to Indiana Partners of the Americas or by contacting Jhani Laupus, Partners VP at Jhani@comcast.net.
Ukiah Busch says
Bill was a gentle soul and a great Partner. He will be missed by all who new him.
Jena Myers says
Bill was such a kind, funny, talented, and brilliant man. Although I hadn’t known him a very long time, he was the kind of person that you felt you had known for a lifetime – such was his warm and down-to-earth nature. My deepest condolences to his loved ones; Bill was one of a kind, and I will sorely miss him!
Nelson Cerqueira says
What sad news! Bill was a very creative and enthusiastic man, fully dedicated to everything he loved, including the Brazilian culture. We will miss him and music joy.
Jo Wagoner says
It’s hard to believe that we won’t hear this dear man’s wonderful music or see the exciting pictures of his friends from other cities and countries (I lived vicariously through him). My sympathies and prayers go out to all those who loved Bill.
Matt Clausen says
I knew Bill through his passion for music, dance, people and Brazil. He was relentless in his pursuit of creating opportunity and building partnerships and people to people connections around the languages of the arts for which he was most passionate. I feel honored to have known him and know that we will carry the spirit of his passions forward.
Doug Adair says
I knew Bill through his love for Brazil and Brazilian culture. He was extremely talented and lived a very full life and yet I also know he felt quite unfilled in some ways. I hope he has found peace, comfort and satisfaction.
cristina Severo says
Our condolences for the irreparable loss of Bill Engle. Certainly it will be in our memory forever for their work and professional dedication.
Debby says
Bill was an example of grace. Even during a difficult time of transition, when a lesser person would be tempted to bail out, Bill stayed giving his time and his talent. It was much appreciated by all.
Sara B Rose says
I live in the Bulter area and so enjoyed hearing the sounds of carillon . It was a nice way to close out the day. My late husband Stephen T Rose was partnered with Bill on the art gallery. Blessings
Sharon Groves says
Bill was incredible with his time and talents for Sharon’s Singles and St Luke’s Singles. His willingness to volunteer and be dependable made all events excellent.
Adriana Powell says
With deep sorrow and sadness, the time to say goodbye came too soon. Bill was an extraordinary gentlemen that will be dearly miss. My sympathy!
Leslie Barratt says
I met Bill at the Indianapolis International Festival as he was looking to join Partners of the Americas, and it was obvious that his passion for music and for culture would greatly enrich both him and the Partnership in Indiana and in Rio Grande do Sul. It is amazing to me that he accomplished so much in just a few years, and his influence will continue in the lives of so many.
Scott Cantrell says
I know I thanked Bill for many little things, but I don’t know if I ever really thanked him for the “big” things he brought to my life. He introduced me to the fascinating world of Carillon music. He encouraged my involvement in all things Brazilian, including Indiana Partners. He helped me make some tough, but important decisions in my life. Most of all, he encouraged me and sometimes (to my annoyance), pushed me to be a better person and experience life and the people around me in a very different way. Bill was a man who gave far more than he took, and quietly went about making the world a better place, one step at a time. I am a better person for having known him and he will be sadly missed.
Phyllis Lynch says
What a shock. I first met Bill in 1961 on Jordan Music’s campus on Delaware St. before Lilly Hall was constructed. Bill was my accompanist during and after my 6 years at Butler. I introduced him to the synthesizer and we joined in many church programs, as I was a Church Musician as well. Throughout the years we occasionally would briefly connect. He framed some art for us, were members together of the Indianapolis Ski Club, We recently connected on FaceBook friends – then he ws quiet.
dan c. flickinger says
Bill will be truly missed. 44 years of shared experiences: 3 employment agencies, three art galleries. Christmas concerts, cribbage fridays at sam’s subway, IRT season tickets, 6+ trips to New York, carillion rack moving, weddings, tree cutting….Bill brightened all of our lives.
Jack Walsh says
Bill was a friend and always part of our family. We met at Butler Men’s Dorm in 1961. Travelled with him to Niagara Falls. Visited Falls right at the border. I was a k ways fascinated by his dedication to practicing at Jordan College if Music. He was part of our family and travelled with us to visit my family in Illinois and made several trips to California to visit my family. My daughters always calked him “Uncle Bill”. He accompanied me several times when I sang. His favorite song was”Never Walk Alone”. What a great life to see how many lives he touched. Blessings to his family abd dear Fri irnds. WE WILL MISS YOU BILL
Arthur R Morris says
Bill was my Indian Lake Camp Counselor in 1968 when I was 15. He gave a set of keys to his NEW 1968 Dodge Superbee to borrow for Dates. Thanks BIll, it really did the trick. I ended up owning that car later on in the 1980’s. wish I still had it. Bill and I were Butler students in piano. I studied under the late John Seiberling from Jordan College of Music. Bill’s nick name for me was Artie. We shared many things together in music, concerts and through Bill I met his friend one afternoon..Van Cliburn just before is evening concert at Clowes. Bill and Cliburn would correspond regularly. This I never knew. When Van Cliburn and I talked, he seemed 10 feet tall to my 5′ 9 height. Sadly Bill and I never had a chance to say goodbye. We would meet for breakfast or lunch on occasion with some friends. I remember we would battle it out on his Steinway at his home taking turns listening to his classical performances then I would sit down and play my latest hard rock piano. It was fun and maybe someday we’ll start up that competition again. Bill has been and always will be missed. Just a good friend!
Susan M. Endicott says
After all these years we did not know Bill was gone. We went to Butler and other places to hear him play. Butler was where my husband and I met Bill. My mother-law went to Butler and some of the rocks at the falls came from her farm. Bill and my husband have been with each other for the last two years.We took our Japanese friends to hear and see him play they loved it.He let them try their hand at playing. He will be greatly missed. Sorry just now learning of this great loss.Took my friend to hear him play knew something was wrong he was not there. Bill thanks for sharing your gift of music ❤