Hollywood Memorial

When Polish pianist Paderwski visited the Liberaces, he recommended Wladziu (Polish for Walter) receive a scholarship to the Wisconsin College of Music. He also studied privately and at age 14 made his debut with the Chicago Symphony. Liberace debuted on local Los Angeles television then reappeared in his own CBS network series. He often played the song ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ as his closing number. He earned his nickname ‘Mr. Showmanship’ for his glittering wardrobes and a candelabrum placed on top of his piano, which became his trademark. He made a few movies, but after his television career faded, he became a mainstay at Las Vegas Casinos where he played to sold-out performances for years. His last public appearance was on a Christmas telecast of ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’ His health was deteriorating and he retreated to his Palm Spring home. He received the last rites of the Catholic Church and with a rosary in his hands died at the age of 68, a victim of AIDS. He is interred with his mother and brother, an orchestra leader and violinist at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills. A Memorial Mass was held at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Las Vegas. The Palm Springs City Hall flew their flag at half-mast. He denied his homosexuality to the end, and in the 1950’s even won a landmark case and millions of dollars in a suit against the National Enquirer.