Wayne Eldin Simpson

Wayne Eldin Simpson, beloved son of Eldin E. and Josephine J. Simpson, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at his home in Rockford, Illinois.

He was born August 8, 1947 in Payson, Utah and was raised in Hooper, Utah.

Wayne loved music and made it his life. Being a very talented and renowned pianist, he was playing accompaniment and solos on programs at a very young age and was the Ward organist at age 14. He taught his younger siblings to harmonize, and they were invited to sing on programs far and wide, with his special accompaniment. He taught us all to love classical music.

He achieved his Eagle Scout Award when he was 13 years old and later served an LDS mission to Australia.

Following his graduation form Weber State College, Wayne was accepted into the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he received his Master''s Degree in music, with high honors. He was awarded one of Eastman''s highest honors, the coveted and rarely awarded, ''Performers Certificate".

The New York Times praised Wayne''s recital given in Carnegie Recital Hall. Wayne performed in New York City, Nauvoo, Illinois, Texas, Australia and throughout the western United States. He played for the American Ballet Theatre, and other noted ballet schools, and artists, such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, in New York City. He was director of Music at the Botsford School of Dance in Rochester, N.Y. Then he went to Chicago, where he became Music Director for Chicago City Ballet. He accompanied and soloed with many of the great and famous singers and dancers of our day. He helped bring programs to PBS. He was also instrumental in taking fun ballet programs into grade schools and introducing the children to the beauty of good music and dance. Wayne always entertained his family and friends with concerts when he came to Utah.

He had a great loving heart for everyone and was a peace maker all of his life. He will be sorely missed.

Wayne is survived by his parents of Hooper, and his siblings, Kathleen (Kim) Gooch, Linda (Gene) Atkinson, Sharon (Eric) Garner, Roger Simpson, and their families, and many dear friends.

Interment was in the Hooper Cemetery on February 20, 2008.

Email condolences to the family at www.lindquistmortuary.com