STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
A fundraiser for Joe Fos, whose piano playing filled the Duchin Room in the Sun Valley Lodge for four decades, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, at the Ketchum Limelight Hotel.
Fos was diagnosed with cancer three years ago but continued to play his long list of show tunes for Sun Valley guests through mid-December. Now, he and his wife Patricia are struggling financially as their savings and retirement accounts have been depleted to pay for cancer treatments.
The fundraiser will feature light refreshments and a no-host bar. And Fos has agreed to play a few requests on “a little piano” that organizer Pat Dugan found.
“He was so devoted to all of us in the community that I thought we could offer a helping hand and show what we can do,” said Dugan. “The Limelight has been wonderfully gracious. We’ll have lots of balloons. And there will be a crystal bowl that everyone can put their hundreds and thousands of dollars in.”
In addition, Donna Finegan has set up a GoFundMe account. Donations may be made at https://gf.me/v/c/722m/joe-fos-the-piano-man
“We need to get the word out to all his fans across the United States that loved his music,
said Marc Longley. “He has 40 years of listeners that I know would come to his aid.”