Lori, whose parents were Jannette Alexander and Howard Alexander, both deceased, was born Nov. 13, 1948. She is survived by her husband William Waddell, stepson Paul Waddell and stepmother Connie Alexander, all of Los Angeles; her brother Mark Alexander, sister-in-law Meg Alexander, niece Janine Alexander, all of Healdsburg; and her cousin Allan Abrams of Seattle.
As a young graduate of USC, Lori lived in Los Angeles where she composed for piano, worked in television and the movie industry, and ran a thriving piano studio. She also directed a nonprofit piano program for underserved students.
Around 1993, she “retired” her teaching studio to return to Idyllwild, where she had been a student at ISOMATA 20 years earlier. It was in Idyllwild that she was introduced to her husband, William. It was in Idyllwild, with the support of musical friends, that she fully developed her compositional talents and heard her pieces performed by the Idyllwild Arts Orchestra under the baton of Ransom Wilson and the University of Redlands Symphonic Band, and where a commission project for the San Diego Chamber Orchestra was initiated. Her compositions reflect detailed preparation and score study, a relentless search for new ways to express texture and timbre, as well as displaying Lori’s signature humor.
In Idyllwild, she returned to teaching selected students and loved her time with these young people. She supported and served on the board of MUSICA! to make music training available to many others. Lori brought her rationality and thoroughness to solving all of life’s challenges and, with that same diligence, encouraged her friends to realize their own dreams.
She loved her family deeply and often expressed her appreciation to those around her for the balance they contributed to her life. She will be sorely missed.
Private services are pending. “Lori Stories: Remembering a Wonderful Friend and Musician,” a celebration of her life and music, is planned for Saturday, Dec 14, at Café Aroma, time to be determined. Donations can be made in her name to MUSICA! at P.O.Box 63, Mountain Center, CA 92561.