My Dad
My dad had a vibrant and colorful life. As a life-long entertainer, he was admired by many for his musical skill and colorful personality. An accomplished self-made man, he was also a piano tuner and rebuilder for 55 years. As you know I followed in his footsteps in the piano business. Passionate about his music, Dad was determined to provide for his family while doing what he loved. Above all else he loved his family. When he spoke of family his eyes would light up and his demeanor would change. He would tell everyone how proud he was of his wife, children and grandchildren. 
Looking back, I realize my dad had a profound influence on so many people. While living in New York he managed a night club, played in his band and apprenticed as a piano technician for 2 years. When I was six, we moved to Florida from New York into a waterfront home in Madeira Beach. It was a bold move considering he also started his new piano business while finding music gigs. That showed me that if you believe in yourself and put the work in, you will be successful. He was so successful that my parents were able to purchase a second home in the mountains of North Carolina. It turned out to be a vacation mecca for aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, grandchildren, friends and acquaintances. Mom would make wonderful meals and make sure everyone felt welcome. Their motivation to do this was based on love. I learned that if you give love it would come back to you abundantly.                                                                
In summer, when I was a teen, the weeks and months we spent in the mountains I experienced and learned from my father’s work ethic. I helped him mix concrete, built steps and even added an addition to the house so more people could come to visit. He would do all this because he truly loved his family.    
I am very grateful my dad instilled in me the importance of basic family values and the unlimited power of love!

I was very fond of Wild Bill.  I considered him a valued friend for over 25 years while we were neighbors at Boca Vista.  I am deeply saddened and miss him immensely.  Play the mean sax in heaven,  Bill.


I can remember as a young boy visiting Uncle Wild Bill and Aunt Margaret with my parents at their waterside home. The night would start with some great food, coffee talk and laughter. The best part was always when the music would start. Everyone would join in to make it a special night. Uncle Bill never judged your ability and made everyone feel like they were a rock star. He was then in his element because it was about enjoying the music with others. I am pretty sure this was a typical night in the Ierna home.
P.S. Some of these nights would include a fun ride to Li'l General   or 7-11 in Frankie Boys hotrod, then returning  back to their home where Uncle Bill would ask if he drove too fast. Of course the answer was always "no".  RIP Wild Bill

During our summer of 1996 vacation through Italy and ending in Leon France we rented an entire home. While walking through the town we heard a piano playing in a small café with no guests in it. While Bill commented that the pianist was extremely skillful. Alan quickly grabbed Wild Bill’s sax and showed it to the old man playing the piano who spoke absolutely no English.
After lots of hand signs and gestures the old man reluctantly allowed Bill to play a small piece. Before you knew it they were speaking the ultimate language of jazz as if they had been playing together for years.
They played until the empty café was bulging at the seams with new found customers until late in the night.
Being that neither musician could speak the other’s language they ended the session with a large embrace and tears in their eyes and a kiss on each cheek.
What a beautiful ending to a fantastic vacation!

On vacation through Italy where we arrived at a small hilltop village named Volterra. Alan searched unsuccessfully for hours to find a place to stay the night. We were informed that the entire village was totally booked due to a festival. While speaking to a townsman he indicated that there was one place that we may successfully find a room as none of the locals would ever go there. He whispered very secretively in Alan’s ear that it was Mafia owned.
We followed the gentlemen’s directions out of town and up some very twisted roads to the top of a hill where we found a lovely estate. The property was overlooked the village and the estate had tall gun turrets protecting the entrance and had beautiful gardens, a pool and helicopter pad. There were no other guest in sight! The cost was a mere $65 per night. OMG!
After we settled into our rooms Wild Bill decided to bring his sax to dinner that they prepared for us. He played a medley of tunes some of which were Italian. His finale was a wild rendition of the theme from the God Father movie. They went crazy with delight as we cringed knowing he was entertaining the mob.
After checking out Bill insisted that he drive to our next town. He then backed up our rental car through a beautiful rose garden and practically destroyed a large flagpole after putting large ruts in the manicured garden. Alan then took over the driving and we drove like hell to get off the property.


One evening, about 4 years ago, I received a call from the Pinellas County Jail. I’ve had that call before, so I knew I better answer the phone.
Shockingly, it was my Dad that got arrested! They wouldn’t give any details on the phone so I rushed over to the Pinellas county jail. He had been arrested for disorderly conduct and was scheduled for release. 
I waited for quite a while. An official came to me and said that if he didn’t quit playing his Saxophone, they were not going to release him.
I’m thinking, “why would he have his sax?” Eventually he got released. Coming out in Wild Bill style, he was loud, proud and mad as hell! 
It turns out that he was arrested at Madeira Beach city hall. Dad insisted that we go to city hall to pick up the shopping cart he used to carry the sax in.
What happened was Wild Bill wanted to do his one-man band thing at Johns pass village and he was told that he needed a permit to do that.
The city would not grant him a permit. In Wild Bill style he went to city hall with his sax and basically held a one man sit in outside the city manager’s office. I am not exactly sure what happened after that but apparently the city manager called the police. The police told him to leave. He refused to budge until he got his permit, so they took my dad to jail. 
It is really sad that the former city manager of Madeira Beach, Shane Crawford, would have a 95-year old World War II veteran arrested because he wanted to play his saxophone.
Even though my dad’s health was failing a bit, he was driven to perform and did everything possible to play his sax and entertain. 


This is one of the adventures Alan and I and Samantha experienced one summer of 1996 with my parents while traveling through Italy and France.
The five of us arrived in the city of Turin, Italy where we were leasing a three bedroom flat in the historical district. My father, Wild Bill, being a true professional musician always traveled with his saxophone. He practiced every day faithfully to maintain his mouth armature. Neighbors would lean out their windows and cheer with a thumbs up.
One day in particular, early into practicing there was a gentlemen names Paulo knocked on the door. He let Bill know that he too was a jazz musician/singer and would love for us to meet his friends who were a group of jazz enthusiasts and Sinatra, Bennett wannabees that lived in our building.
Paulo excitedly dragged us up to an apartment to meet his fellow artist friends. They jammed all night long; bonding like only musicians can. One the session was over the fellow musicians enthusiastically invited Wild Bill to perform at the Royal Palace the next evening.
The next evening we met in the Palace gardens under a band shell. Wild Bill had such a supreme expertise he was able to make them sound much better that their past abilities.
A very large crowd soon appeared to enjoy the beautiful sounds and ballads. In the middle of the concert it began to rain. The audience very politely made their way into the bandshell and opened their umbrellas to protect the new found son of Italy and Pied Piper. They gently put him out of harms way while intently listening to every note.
After the concert an invitation was extended to join the traveling troubadours throughout Europe; but, of course we politely declined.


I’ll never forget the first time I heard that saxophone music wafting up through the trees coming up from Bill’s house...so ethereal...mystical in a way.  Sad to see him go...RIP, Wild Bill.

Gathering of Family and Friends

OBITUARY

William S. Ierna

January 20, 1921 – January 20, 2020

Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home & Cemetery

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