I learned of Harvey Roehl through his book, Player Piano Treasury,
maybe a year or so before I actually met him.  Dave Bowers and I spent
some time driving through the Eastern part of the U.S. during the
summer of 1966 or 1967 (can't remember which), visiting many automatic
musical instrument sites that held some kind of historic significance.

There are four places that still vividly stick in my mind:
 (1) Visiting Farny Wurlitzer at the North Tonawanda Wurlitzer factory,
 (2) meeting Harvey and Marion Roehl (The Vestal Press),
 (3) visiting the Martin Hotel in Skaneateles Falls (where my first
Wurlitzer 30A PianOrchestra was discovered), and
 (4) Clark's Trading Post in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Harvey and Marion were gracious hosts, and, of course, Dave was
very much involved with Harvey at that time, having just written
"Put Another Nickel In," which was published by The Vestal Press.
There were other collaborative efforts between Dave Bowers and Harvey,
the culmination of which was the "Encyclopedia of Automatic Music",
a huge volume of work that still shines just as brightly on its own
merit.

Since the work on the "Encyclopedia" took place during the time Dave
and I were involved with Hathaway & Bowers, Inc., I was very cognizant
and appreciative of the immense effort that went into this one book.
Dave would be writing and pasting up copy, month after month, while
I was busy keeping the Hathaway & Bowers plant and its workshop force
of some thirteen restoration employees on track and busy.

I last communicated with Harvey Roehl in January of this year, when he
thought the various cancer treatments he was receiving would completely
solve his health problem, but, as time as shown, this optimistic
outlook was sadly not to be the case.  Harvey's passing does indeed
leave a void in the Heart of automatic music as we have known it, a
vacancy that can hopefully be partially filled by other authors and
enthusiasts for automatic music.

As for myself, nothing will ever replace the uniqueness of Harvey
Roehl.  With the news of his passing, I find myself having flashback
visions and feelings of Harvey as I remember him, his humor, dry wit
and undaunted enthusiasm and interest in mechanical music.  If I could
alter what has happened with a wave of my hand I would do so, but I
cannot make it different, so, with an affectionate farewell I wish
Harvey, wherever his Spirit may be, a wonderful future in whatever
form he may take the next time around.

Sincerely,

Terry Hathaway
http://www.hathaworld.com/