 Courtesy of Sno-King Community Chorale Children of All Ages Concert  Courtesy of Sno-King Community Chorale  Courtesy of Sno-King Community Chorale  Reunion 2003 at Ward's ... Fran Thorn Banasick, Ed Aliverti & Shirley, Ann Reynolds Paul (hidden), Dorothy Niver Habif, Lila Ekstedt Sween  Reunion 2003 at Ward's ... Mel Olsen (Janis Hedlund's spouse), Ed & Shirley Aliverti, Cammy Murphy Elder, Stu Smith |
Edward Gene Aliverti, 77, of Edmonds, Wash., died February 3, 2010 at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born July 28, 1932 to Ambrose and Louise Aliverti in Walla Walla, Wash., Ed and his brother Bob worked on the family’s farm and attended school where Ed graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1950 as its valedictorian. Ed attended WSU where he graduated cum laude in 1955 with degrees in music education and communication. It was during this time that he married Shirley and their family would eventually include daughters Jann, Leslie and Gina. He returned to WSU for graduate work in 1957 and became a certified counselor after studying at Seattle University in 1965. From 1955-1960, Aliverti was the vocal music educator at Edmonds High School until he helped open Mountlake Terrace High School and established the exemplary choral program there and later served as a counselor. In 1971, Ed moved to Lynnwood High School where he helped open that new school and served as a counselor until 1976. At that time, Ed became a real fixture at Edmonds Community College where he served as the director of college information and school relations, and in 1981 he became the director of admissions and counseling. Then in 1985, Aliverti became the associate dean for student services, until he retired in 1988. True to form, Ed was even busier in retirement.
One of Ed’s many talents was serving as the master of ceremonies at concerts and events, and sports announcing – especially amateur wrestling. Remarkably, the man whose voice is most closely associated with the sport never was a wrestler himself, but instead got involved when he was trying to recruit young men into the choirs at Edmonds H.S. The rest is history as Ed has been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. He has twice been recognized by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association for meritorious service, selected as “Man of the Year” by Wrestling USA Magazine and was honored with the International Federation of Amateur Wrestling’s Gold Star award. Included among his accomplishments is serving as the wrestling announcer for six Olympiads from Los Angeles in 1984 to Athens in 2004. With Shirley at his side, Ed was the voice of innumerable youth, high school, collegiate and international wrestling tournaments and championships for more than 50 years.
A life-long musician and arts advocate, Ed founded and directed the Sno-King Chorale and also helped develop what is now The Fantastic Stardust Follies – a group of seniors who have presented shows to resounding acclaim all over the country, on cruise ships and for large private gatherings. In fact, Ed composed, arranged, directed and performed with the Follies. His rendition of “Phantom of the Opera” won him praise from audiences and critics everywhere he performed. Most recently, Ed performed two benefit shows with his doctor, Vincent Picozzi, raising funds for pancreatic cancer research.
Ed is survived by his best friend and wife of 55 years, Shirley; daughters Jann Aliverti; Leslie Jones (Ted); Gina Thorvilson (Rick), grandchildren Ashley Granath (Derrick), Caitlin Jones, Adam and Eric Thorvilson and one great-grandson, Dylan Edward Granath. He is also survived by his mother, Louise Aliverti, and his brother Bob and his wife Dana along with their two sons, Robert E. and Brent. He was preceded in death by his father, Ambrose Aliverti.
Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at Holy Rosary Church (630 7th Avenue N in Edmonds, Wash.) with a reception to follow in the parish school’s gymnasium. Private graveside services will follow at Edmonds Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the Aliverti family respectfully requests that donations be made in Ed’s honor to either:Multiple Sclerosis Helping Hands |
Related Web sites:
Beck's Funeral Home
TheMat.com - USA Wrestling
Aliverti Family Blog - How is Ed Aliverti
from . . . Frank DeMiero, Conductor/Artistic Director,
Sno-King Community Chorale:
It is with great sadness we share with you that one of our Sno-King Advisory Board members, Ed Aliverti, passed away today, Feb. 3 after battling cancer.
Ed graduated from WSU and began his career in education at Edmonds High School as the choir director in 1955. His choirs were outstanding. He went on to be the choir director and counselor at Mountlake Terrace High when the school opened in 1960. In 1971, he was part of the team of educators that opened Lynnwood High School. After leaving the district in 1977, he went on to work in public relations and then eventually as a dean at Edmonds Community College. He has been an instrumental figure in our community for decades through his volunteer work, assisting with charitable organizations, music productions and civic groups. Beyond his teaching, Ed is also internationally known as the voice of wrestling, having announced at 6 Olympic Games. He announced countless amateur wrestling matches and tournaments and is a member of the wrestling halls of fame. Ed was the consummate master of ceremonies. He had a charismatic personality and the ability to accent the positive in any situation.
Ed announced most all of the Sno-King Community Concerts. He was instrumental in helping to organize the Chorale and has been on the Advisory Board from the beginning. We will miss his energy, enthusiasm and spirit.
Our thoughts and well wishes are with his family, friends, and colleagues.
We will notify you with additional information regarding his celebration of life when it becomes available.
Sincerely, Frank DeMiero
The following article by Eric Stevick was borrowed from the Everett Herald
EDMONDS — Ed Aliverti, a gifted high school music teacher and legendary international wrestling announcer, died in a Seattle hospital Wednesday after battling pancreatic cancer.
His deep baritone voice was heard near and far from emceeing Fourth of July parades close to his Edmonds home to mat side at the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; Barcelona, Spain; Atlanta and Sydney, Australia.
Friends said Wednesday Aliverti’s kindness is what they will remember most.
“He was incredibly giving,” said Frank DeMiero, a retired music teacher who worked with Aliverti in the Edmonds School District. “The old term, ‘He’d give the shirt off his back,’ that was Ed Aliverti.”
Aliverti, 77, never was a wrestler himself. It was his efforts to build a choir in his first year of teaching at Edmonds High School in the 1950s that led to his calling wrestling matches.
When a half dozen wrestlers joined the choir, he expressed an interest in their sport. The wrestling coach, in turn, asked Aliverti to call the school’s matches.
Aliverti spent more than 50 years announcing wrestling meets. He began announcing state tourneys in 1965 before graduating to collegiate meets, world championships and the Olympics.
The man who was selected as a distinguished member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla., never lost his love for prep wrestling.
“I never saw him any different at the Olympics or the state high school championships,” said Jim Meyerhoff, an assistant director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, who worked with Aliverti at the state Mat Classic and the Olympics in Los Angeles. “He was always the consummate professional.”
Aliverti insisted on learning how to pronounce each wrestler’s name correctly, an exercise that could take hours, particularly with tongue-twisting international pronunciations.
He also would perform the national anthem at many events and learned to sing anthems for several other countries.
Meyerhoff said Aliverti’s voice will continue to be heard. Three years ago, the WIAA recorded him singing “God Bless America.” That rendition will be played before state championship matches for years to come, he said.
Aliverti was valedictorian of his high school class in Walla Walla and graduated from Washington State University in 1955 with a music education degree.
He first taught at Edmonds High School before joining the faculty at Mountlake Terrace High School when the school opened in 1960.
“He did a magnificent job,” DeMiero said. “He had wonderful choirs and the kids loved him.”
While at Mountlake Terrace High, Aliverti became a school counselor.
In 1971, he joined the staff at Lynnwood High School when it opened.
By 1975, he was hired as a part-time music instructor at Edmonds Community College. He retired from EdCC as associate dean of student services in 1988, the same year he received the college’s excellence in education award. He also received the Washington State Governor’s Community Service Award.
Even after retiring, he was a frequent presence at EdCC, taking on assignments in admissions and representing the college at special events for another decade.
“He was known as the voice of the college,” said Michelle Graves, an EdCC spokeswoman.
Aliverti emceed sports and other events for the college and his voice was even used for the college’s phone messages.
“He made a huge difference at this campus.” Graves said.
In recent years, he continued to perform as part of a singing group.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley, and three daughters.
Services were pending Wednesday.