William Roy Slater, one of Rochester’s most prominent jazz pianists and educators, passed away peacefully October 16, 2025, at Fairport Skilled Nursing Facility in Rochester, New York, after a stroke he suffered in 2019.
Born in Buffalo, New York, October 11, 1943, the second son of the late Harry “Bud” Slater and Arline Thomson Slater, Bill grew up in Tonawanda, New York, graduated from Tonawanda High School Class of 1961, and graduated Suma Cum Laude in Mathematics from the University of Buffalo. After graduation he volunteered for the Peace Corps where he accepted an assignment to teach mathematics at the Universitie D’Columbia in Bogota, Columbia. Upon returning home, Bill taught math at the Park School in Buffalo and Patchogue School District on Long Island.
Moving to Rochester, New York, in the 1970s, he dedicated the remainder of his life to a music career that began in elementary school. Bill became well-known as the solo pianist at the Strathelyn Hotel and various country clubs in the Rochester Area. For many years he taught piano at Denton Cottier and Daniels, but in later years he specialized in teaching improvisational technique to adult students. He never married. His students became his family.
Bill is survived by his older brother John T. Slater (Patricia), sisters Kathlene A. Koler (Marvin) and Denise D. Moorfoot (Jeffrey), and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Alabama.
No services will be held at this time.
6 responses to “Slater, William R.”
Bill was one of my favorite cousins that came to the farm in North East, PA were his Mother grew up. I learned alot from Bill and looked forward to him coming to the farm. I’ll miss Bill greatly and remember him the rest of my life. Rest in Peace Bill! 🙏🙏
Always enjoyed your random visits! Thought about you often over the years, and you just popped in my mind just a few weeks ago. You’ll be missed. Always thoroughly enjoyed your company and our conversations. Bless you…
Oh Billy Bob….I will miss your whirlwind 3 hour phone calls where we analyzed the world around us! I always enjoyed your weekend visits where we stayed up playing cards and talking till wee hours of the morning. This is until we see each other again in eternity.
Sad to hear as it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, but many fond memories of your visits and loved your dry humor…reminded me of uncle Bud.
My deepest sympathies to Bills family at this sad time. Bill was a dear friend and will surely miss our long discussions on all kinds of topics! Rest in peace!
Bill was my piano teacher and a good friend for many years. We didn’t keep in touch quite as well after we left Rochester in 1999, but we saw him occasionally. Sadly, I only spoke with him once after the stroke. I still have the many cassette tapes of our lessons, a couple notebooks, and many lead sheets and arrangements we worked on together. He was a wonderful teacher and friend.