William Moeller, Musical-Theater Mentor

William Anthony Moeller, pianist and a leader of local musical-theater for decades, drew a steady stream of visitors to his hospital room during a recent stay.

Nurses asked, "Is he famous?"

He certainly was in Seattle's Highline area, where he taught school and coached troupes such as the All-Pirates Revue and the Hi-Liners.

He surely was in the hearts of dozens of young people who went on to dancing, singing and acting jobs in New York and elsewhere.

"He was the father of The Hi-Liners, a summer-stock group which became year-round for producing shows," said a former student, Phil Emerson, who now directs Hi-Liners summer shows. "We've done shows for trade conventions, governor's conferences, the national teachers convention. We were just a whole bunch of teenagers that got real professional training from Bill. Some are on Broadway, some in TV soaps."

Mr. Moeller died Monday (July 12) of prostate cancer. He was 77.

He also was known in Seattle: He played organ and piano at the old Olympic Hotel, Washington Athletic Club and Swedish Club. He knew or could fake any tune, friends say.

Mr. Moeller also was a popular accompanist. He accompanied a singing Miss Washington at the 1964 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. That year, he also accompanied the U.S. gymnastics team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"Other countries were having canned music, but when they heard him, they wanted him to play for them," said his wife of 52 years, Jeanne Moeller of Des Moines. "He played for England, France, Canada and others."

He also accompanied his wife's singing in clubs in Seattle and, in the late 1950s, Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Born in Great Falls, Mont., the only child of a woman who played accompaniment for silent films, he went to live with his father after his parents divorced. He graduated from high school in Deephaven, Minn., then moved to Seattle to rejoin his mother.

His first years at Seattle University were interrupted by service as a gunner and radio operator with the Army Air Forces in the Pacific during World War II.

He finished his bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1948, having produced college musicals. He also played piano in Seattle's Garden of Allah nightclub.

Working with youth in Highline Schools, he produced musicals such as "The King and I" and "South Pacific." He also taught history and English. He formed the Hi-Liners in 1966 and chaperoned the group at shows around the nation.

He earned a master's degree in communications from the University of Washington and worked as a public information officer for the King County Council. He retired in 1990.

"I took over the Hi-Liners summer stock, but continued to go to him for advice on that and everything else," said Emerson. "Bill Moeller's influence was felt to the end."

Other survivors include his children Lin Moeller, Colorado Springs; Joanne Meyers, Tukwila; Dianne West, Auburn; Kevin Moeller, Federal Way; Julie Moeller, Ketchikan, Alaska; Timothy Moeller, San Francisco; Teresa Moeller, Seattle; and Matthew Moeller, SeaTac; and six grandchildren.

Mass has been said. Donations may go to the William A. Moeller Performing Arts Scholarship Fund, c/o Nick Latham, Highline School District, P.O. Box 66100, Burien, WA 98166.

Carole Beers' e-mail address is: cbeers@seattletimes.com