The Los Angeles family lament the loss of longtime Stadium organist Nancy Be Hefrey, who died following her son’s Facebook post. She was 89 years old.
For almost 30 years, Stadium fans were serenaded by Hefley’s keys as they were the live organist on the team from 1988 until their retirement in October 2015.
Baseball doesn’t have many live organists, let alone the world of professional sports, but Heffrey was a true pioneer in her craft.
Performed throughout the stadium, San Pedro Native’s witty and timely songs have been able to shine their humor and personality through speakers for nearly 30 years at Chavez Lavine.
One of her defining moments during her 1988 “Rookie” season was when musical theatre fan Orel Herssia played “Master of the House” from the musical Les Micerables every time she stolen the mound.
Perhaps when the also won the World Series, he helped secure the Cy Young Award that season.
Although she was not originally a baseball fan, she became a organist through her husband’s lifelong affinity for the franchise, and her friend, former pitcher, named Tommy John.
“In the beginning, I didn’t want to sit at a baseball game every night,” Bee told Linda A. Lapka of the American Federation of Musicians. “I didn’t know it would be a lot of fun.”
When Helen Dell, the ‘ former organist, retired, her husband informed her of the start of work.
“I’ve been here ever since,” she said. “They couldn’t drive me away!”
Stadium was not the only place Hefrey played.
For over 55 years, she played the organ at Bellflower Baptist Church. This is where she met her husband Bill. Bill became one of the construction workers who helped build Stadium in 1962.
Before his job with the , Heffrey was an alternative organist for the Los Angeles Angels. On Valentine’s Day in 1988, she auditioned for the Blue Boys during an exhibition game between the and the University of Southern California.
Hefrey handed the torch and passed the ‘ current organist, Dieter Roule.
Snation wants to dolies the Hefrey family.
Photo credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA Today Sports
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