4 minute read
A Melody OF A LIFETIME
Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, Bill Mercer recalls that his interest in music began in fourth grade, when he started violin lessons. By high school, he was playing the French horn in band and violin in orchestra, singing in chorus, was the student marching band director, and went on to perform in the Massachusetts AllState Chorus.
Bill’s high school vocal music teacher was a graduate of SUNY Potsdam. He suggested Bill consider attending the esteemed Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Bill’s high school band director, who also directed the MIT Band, secured Bill’s first paying job, playing violin at the Boston Arts Festival. Not too shabby for a youngster.
Bill caught his first glimpse of Evelyn Batchelor on the SUNY Potsdam campus. Or rather Evelyn caught her first glimpse of Bill. One afternoon, Evelyn, a proper college girl who carried a 4.0 through college, walked down Main Street with a friend when a bright yellow Chevy convertible cruised down the street with the top down and a guy riding on the front bumper. Evelyn turned to her friend and said, “who’s that idiot?” It was her future husband. They began dating as college students and were married for 61 years.
Bill received his Bachelor of Science from SUNY Potsdam in Music Education and a Master in Arts degree from Syracuse University in Musicology. The couple married in 1959, shortly after Bill graduated from SUNY Potsdam.
The Mercers’ found employment in the Baldwinsville School District, Evelyn for Baker High School Choral, and Bill as High School Orchestra Director. Bill soon realized that there wasn’t any instruction program for young string players at the elementary and junior high school levels, so he began teaching music in the elementary schools so students could come up into the high school program. Five years later, when Bill left Baldwinsville Schools in 1965, there were 125 string players in the program. He moved on to Liverpool School District to begin a
“I’ve been active my whole life in various ways. I loved my music teaching and performing career, as well as time spent in the outdoors, sailing, biking and x-country skiing. I’ve also enjoyed participating in community activities and volunteering on various boards and committees. All of these I feel have contributed to my mental and physical wellness.” string program. He taught there for 31 years until he retired.
Evelyn left teaching when she was expecting their son Doug and began teaching children piano in their home, which she did for many years. As a result, their family grew to include two sons and eventually six grandchildren—Bill, Jr., and his wife Maggie, who have three daughters and live in Baldwinsville, and Douglas and his wife Laura, who have one daughter and two sons and live near Dallas, Texas. “I enjoy spending time with my family—celebrating milestone events, and making new memories,” says Bill.
Volunteering
Bill is currently President of the Board of Directors for Syracuse Home Association Foundation and serves on the McHarrie Life Board of Directors. He joined the Foundation in early 2018 and became the Board President in April of 2019. He also chairs the Finance Committee of the Foundation. Bill, a dedicated steward for the Foundation, is a valued volunteer and donor.
Connections with the Baldwinsville Theatre Guild (BTG) arose from acting all through high school and college, which later in life led him to join the BTG when he moved to Baldwinsville. When the BTG began performing musicals, they recruited Bill as music director. He recruited and directed the pit orchestra for the BTG’s first five musicals. He continued to enjoy acting in straight shows and dinner theatres.
Bill served as Chair of the Riverside Cemetery Association Board of Trustees in the mid1990s. He’s always had a special interest in cemeteries and has even designed several headstones for his family members. He feels his best accomplishment as Chair was convincing the Board to build a columbarium because more people were choosing cremation. It was built shortly after he left the Board in the mid1990s.
Charitable Giving
After years of battling dementia, Evelyn became a beloved resident of Sage Court and Syracuse Home. Bill spent a tremendous amount of time with her at Syracuse Home while making friends with staff and volunteers. This experience, plus having friends who moved to McHarrie Towne, led to Bill’s involvement and philanthropic support of McHarrie Life’s healthcare programs and services.
Bill was on the Syracuse Symphony Board of Directors for several years and was the Chair of their Education Committee. He also supports music in the community, giving to the Onondaga Civic Orchestra, and the Syracuse Chamber Orchestra. Other charitable organizations he supports include the Alzheimer’s Association, American Lung Association, and the Oswego Riverside Cemetery.
Staying Physically Active
An ardent sailor, Bill keeps his sailboat on the south shore of Lake Ontario on Sodus Bay; he also enjoys birding, fly and lake fishing, biking, crosscountry skiing at Beaver Lake, and has always had an interest in sports cars since attending racing at Watkins Glenn with his brotherinlaw. He has driven racecars at Pocono Raceway and owns a BMW Z4 sports car.
Memorable Highlights
Because he grew up close to Fenway Park, a favorite memory of Bill’s young life in Brookline revolves around baseball. Bill’s father, who immigrated from Northern Ireland, attended a Red Sox versus Yankees game in the late 1920s. At that game, Earle Combs hit a home run for the Yankees. Bill’s father caught that ball, and after the game his dad got Earle’s signature on it. As fate would have it, the publicist for the Red Sox lived across from Bill’s childhood home. This wonderful neighbor arranged a tour of the Red Sox clubhouse for Bill when he was just nine years old. Earle Combs was then coaching for the Boston Red Sox and signed Bill’s ball a second time.
Personal Achievements
In 1981, Bill proudly received the Liverpool Central School’s Teacher of the Year Award. After his retirement in 1995, he was elected to the presidency of the New York State School Music Association, also know as NYSSMA, serving as President of NYSSMA in 1996 and 1997. Bill also received the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra’s Outstanding String Music Educator Award, and in 2001, the SUNY Potsdam Julia E. Crane Alumni Association presented him with the Helen M. Hosmer Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement.
Nowadays, Bill might sum up all his interests, volunteer commitments and community involvements by saying: “I guess I’m really failing at retirement!”
