Werner Isler February 9th, 1922 - March 15th, 2013

[Donald Isler]

Dad passed away this afternoon after a difficult year. We are glad he had 90 pretty good years, healthy-wise, before this. One of the main features of his life in recent years was his participation in CMG. He enjoyed interacting with his friends here very much.

[piston]

Dear Donald:
I enjoyed every message your father posted on CMGF, every one of them. He struck me as a real elder, a person who brought tremendous wisdom in every sentence he wrote. He calmed the turbulent seas of CMGF on more than one occasion.

This is how I wish to remember him. A genuine elder with so much knowledge to share, including about World War II.

My very, very sincere condolences for the loss of such a great person.

Yours,

Jacques.

[Seán]

Donald, your father was a lovely man. He was always kind, courteous and patient, I was very fond of him and I spoke to my wife about him from time to time. My thoughts are with you, your mother and the rest of your family. The world will be a sadder place without him. May he rest in peace.

[Donaldopato]

I was so sad to read on Facebook that Werner had died. When I started to post my concert reviews, he wrote me a short PM to encourage me to continue, as it was clear music was my passion. I enjoyed hearing his YouTube performances, and regret never meeting him in person, but rejoice in knowing him through his music.

RIP Maestro.

[piston]

A virtual fire should be lit.

[Chalkperson]

Oh Donald, I am so sorry to hear of your father's passing, he was such a special person, I was lucky enough to be seated next to him at the CMG get together, and we corresponded a great deal via PM, he was always kind, considerate, courteous, encouraging, and also fatherlike to me, I can only send my love and condolences to your your mother and your family, the world is a sadder place without him, that's for sure.

[Wallingford]

My deepest condolences to you and your family.

He was a fine man.

[slofstra]

Donald, forgive me if I don't have the quote exactly right, but your father was fond of saying that the best piece of music is the one you're listening to right now. I've often thought of that comment of his; we can compare two shirts or two cars or two pictures side by side and see which is better. But you can't do that so easily with music; it's very tied up with the 'now'. I'm glad your father had such a love for music and was able to share that with us on the forum. He was a guiding light who will be missed.

[Allen]

Don

I am so sorry to hear this. Your father was a gentleman, in every sense of the word. I enjoyed his posts tremendously. May he rest in peace.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

[Holden Fourth]

Hello Donald

This is a sad loss and like many of us who has lost a beloved parent I know how you are feeling right now after the loss of a much loved father and mentor. The recording Werner sent to me that he made in 1966 is playing as I write this. It's made me think of my own father and how proud I was of him as you are of Werner.

Please pass accept and pass on my condolences to your family, especially your mother and be strong for her.

[lennygoran]

Sue and I send our deepest condolences--we'll never forget sitting with him and your mother at the
Gabriel's forum dinner--so generous, so considerate, so sensible--he will be terribly missed! Regards, Len

[jbuck919]

Oh Donald! I am so sorry to hear of your father's passing. I hope you and your mother may have every consolation that can be had on such an occasion, starting with being more aware than anybody that his was a life well lived.

Tearfully,

John Brosseau

[josé echenique]

So sad to hear the news.
May he rest in peace.

José Luis.

[THEHORN]

Condolences to you and your family . He will be missed , but he certainly had a great life from everything I've heard about him .

[maestrob]

Donald:

Your Dad was a fine man, and a great asset to us here at CMG. May he rest in well-deserved peace.

[Lance]

Dear Donald and Charlotte, I am so sorry to see this post. Werner was a favourite friend, and always the perfect gentleman. I fondly remember our many long, late-night phone calls discussing music. I will miss him, and remember our meetups in NYC and the lunches we enjoyed when you all passed thru going to Rochester. Thoughts are with you. May Werner rest in peace.

[Ricordanza]

Don, I am very sorry for your loss. For most of us in CMG, we knew Werner for his intelligence, wisdom, love of music and decency through his posts on this board. A few of us, including myself, were lucky enough to meet this extraordinary gentleman. May his memory be a blessing.

H

[RebLem]

Dear Donald and Charlotte,

What I most admired about Werner was his love of life. It is hard to maintain that love as one grows older. So many people who have been precious presences in our lives pass on that with each death of a friend or relative, life seems less and less worth living. But Werner was always ready to make a new friend, even very young ones, and he gave all of us here a perspective on life that will stand us all in good stead. What comes to mind most is something Walter Mondale said in his eulogy for Hubert Humphrey at his funeral: "He taught us how to live, and in the end, he taught us how to die."

My most sincere condolences on the death of one of the great gentlemen of the age. I can assure you his death is a loss to all of us, not just the two of you.

Most sincerely,
Robert Eugene Baker

[Agnes Selby]

Werner was a wonderful and dear friend. I will miss his wonderful letters
to us and his long friendship going back almost 30 years. Our family is very
sad at this moment.....

[John F]

So sorry to hear of Werner's death. I really enjoyed our conversations at CMG meet-ups and was hoping he would recover and be able to join us again. Best wishes to Donald and the family.

[Teresa B]

Don,
Please accept my heartfelt condolences...I admired Werner tremendously, and truly regret having not had the chance to meet him in person.
~ Teresa

[Donald Isler]

Many thanks for all the kind comments about Dad, which I will print out and keep. Reading them, and other messages we received, and hearing what was said about him at the funeral yesterday was really a good experience. Fortunately, the nice things said about him didn't have to be made up; they were true!

[sans maitre]

Sorry to hear that, my condolences to your family

[IcedNote]

My condolences. I enjoyed his participation here a great deal.

-Garrett

[Steinway]

Donald..

Just returned from a trip and read about the loss of your wonderful father.

My wife and I want to express our most sincere sense of sadness , having known what a splendid person he was and how much he meant to you and your family.

He will be missed by so many members of this forum, who truly admired him .

Rest in peace, Werner.

[rwetmore]

Sorry to hear about Werner's passing.