From The Northwest Herald
LLOYD A.
'ADRIAN' WATTS
Born:
Aug. 4, 1962; in Wakefield, Mich.
Died:
Jan. 9, 2006; in Wonder Lake
He
was a performer, magician, stand-up comedian in the area
WONDER LAKE – Lloyd A. "Adrian" Watts, 43, of Wonder
Lake, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2006, in his wife's arms, surrounded by
family at his home, after an extended illness.
He was born Aug. 4, 1962, in Wakefield, Mich., to Rita
(Tomei) and Roy Watts. On December 23, 1988, he married Denise Siragusa
in Maquoketa, Iowa.
He and his wife were owners of Truth Roofing and General
Contracting and Exteriors by LAW.
He was a popular local performer, having begun his career
on the stage in junior high school playing the role of Yonkers in "Davey
Crockett." He played a number of roles while attending Zion-Benton High
School, including Charles Condomine in "Blithe Spirit," for which he
received the 1980 ZBHS Best Actor Award. He graduated there in 1981.
At the Opera House in Woodstock, he created such roles at
Harry Beaton in "Brigadoon," Don in "Chorus Line" and The King in "King
and I," for which he received the prestigious Town Square Players' Soul
Award and was nominated for a Chicago-area award for his outstanding
performance.
He also appeared in productions of "Carousel," "Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat," and "Do Black Patent Leather
Shoes Really Reflect Up," at the Opera House, the Raue Center and for
Pullman Players of Wauconda. The Woodstock Musical Theater Company
awarded him their coveted Heart Award in 2003 for his work in "Fiddler
on the Roof." Audiences also will remember him from the popular revues,
"Paradise People" and "Dille's Follies."
A protégé of his uncle, professional magician Nick Tomei,
he was sought after for his close-up magic. He appeared locally as a
stand-up comic. He and his wife, who often performed with him, won a
trip to Las Vegas as winners of an area-wide lip-synch contest.
Not limiting his talents to being on stage, he designed
the set for the recent Opera House production of "Man of La Mancha" and
was active in choreography.
He was a formidable competitor in chess, darts and many
other games of skill. Through the Internet, he played opponents and made
friends throughout the world.
He will be remembered for his many talents, his joy for
life, his wit and energy, but above all, for his love and concern for
all he met.
Survivors include his wife; four stepchildren, Dawn
(Dave) Borg of Cary, Philip (Carmen) Siragusa of DeKalb, Tony (Jenny)
Siragusa of Cary and Nik (Jackie) Siragusa of Cary; six grandchildren,
Olivia, Kayla, Abby, Payton, Christopher and Joseph; a brother, Lyle
(Jeannine) Watts, two nieces, Erin and Valerie Watts; his stepfather,
Ronald Walkky of Wakefield, Mich.; an aunt, Louise Engle of Waukegan; a
sister-in-law, Deidre Eddy of Belvidere; two nephews, Craig (Gayle-Anne)
Eddy of Scarborough, Maine, and Keith Eddy of Sacramento, Calif.; and
his aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces and many, many friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother; his grandmother,
Signe Thiel of Wakefield, Mich.; and an uncle, Nick Tomei of Lake
Forest.
As he wished, his body has been donated to Life Legacy to
help others and for research.
Memorials may be made to the Friends of Adrian Watts Fund
in Woodstock or the American Cancer Society.
A celebration of his life will take place from 2 to 5
p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Opera House in Woodstock.
