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Summary

Distinguished Citizen 1992

Thomas F. Waters From Brunswick: 1992 Honorees: Thomas F. Waters (1947 - 2010)

Distinguished Citizen 1992:

From: 100 Years of Memories: Somewhere in this world there could be over ten thousand adults and children that received their first dance instructions from Tom Waters during the past three decades.

Tome began dance training with Miss Betty Lou Cavaller. When she moved to Harpers Ferry, Tom, at the age of eleven, opened a teaching studio with the former Ann Catlett. His subsequent teachers have included Julia Mayer, Luigi, teachers at the Joffrey Ballet School and the American Ballet Theater in New York, Washing and Los Angeles.

He taught in Frederick, Carroll County, Loudoun County, VA, and at Frederick Community College and Hood. He also taught at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and at dance conventions. He was invited to teach at the International Cultural Dance Center in Athens, Greece, one summer.

In the late seventies he formed the Dance Contraption for daily study that led some students into careers of acting, teaching dance, choreography, TV commercials, and dance therapy. This group won national top honors in 1983 in Los Angeles.

A member of Dance Contraption, Mellissa Gregory, became the first Junior Miss Dance of the D.C., Virginia, Maryland area for Dance Masters and she ha appeared in several movies. In six years, dance contraption members earned over $125,000 in dance scholarships to colleges, professional dance schools, and dance seminars.

In 1984, Tom Waters was chosen to choreograph the Miss Dance of American pageant in New York City. In 1985 he choreographed both Mr. and Miss Dance of American competitions in Atlanta, working with some of the country's top dancers. He choreographed for the Maryland State Junior Miss Pageant for several years, and for the Dance of America Pageant in New York City.

One of his students, in 1989, was crowned Miss Dance of Washington, D.C. Tom's students at the largest national dance competition recently won two first places, tow third places, and one fourth (solo) out of 29 dancers. Overall solo scorer at a national competition was Tom's student.

Tom and his dancers have contributed to charities since his first dance concert in Brunswick. Various charities received over $20,000 during his firs 20 years in dancing, aiding Hear, Arthritis, ARC, Brunswick Library, The Kim Weddle Fund, Beaux Arts Ball Silent Auction, Weinberg Center.

Information from “Find a Grave” Birth: Sep. 26, 1947, USA Death: May 9, 2010 Maryland, USA Burial: Saint Johns Cemetery Frederick Frederick County Maryland, USA

	Mr. Thomas F. Waters, 62, passed into eternal life at home on Sunday, May 9, 2010, after a long and courageous battle with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He was the husband of 30 years to Karen Musial Waters. Born on Sept. 26, 1947, he was the son of the late Floyd K. Waters and Dora Viola Waters. He was a graduate of Brunswick High School in 1965 and a graduate of Hagerstown Business College. Because of an immense love of dance, Tom started his own dance studio, Tom's Dance Studio in 1959 in Brunswick. He would also teach in Loudoun County, Va., and would later move his studio to Market Street in Frederick. The studio, which later became Artistic Dance Centre, would be an icon for 50 years in Frederick County. After Tom's illness prevented him from personally teaching in 2006, Lauren Waters, his daughter, would become director of Artistic Dance Centre and keep the legacy alive with the help of her brother, Nathan Waters. Countless students have passed through the doors of the studio and many thought of Tom as their "second dad," their "mentor," their "friend." Although tap was Tom's first love, his well-rounded program of all disciplines of dance would provide many students the chance to go on professionally in careers in New York City, cruise lines and theater. The studio's dance company, The Dance Contraption, won top awards at the Dance Masters Convention in 1983 in Los Angeles, including choreography and costuming awards for Tom. Artistic Dance Centre will close at the end of the dance season in July with many memories and well wishes for those who touched the lives of the Waters family. A celebration of Tom's life will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 16, at the Weinberg Center. A full-length documentary chronicling Tom's life and the impact that he has had on the Frederick County Arts community will be shown. Proceeds from the gala evening will fund a scholarship in Tom's name. Surviving in addition to his wife is his son, Nathan Waters of Frederick; his daughter, Lauren Waters of Frederick; and his precious granddaughter, Haley Kelley-Waters. He is also survived by two sisters, June Alger and husband, Jack, of Brunswick, and Susan Alexander and husband, Ron, of Harpers Ferry, W.Va.; sister-in-law, Sharon Musial Coddington of Louisville, Ky.; niece, Holly Delauter and husband, Joe, of Thurmont; nephews, Kenny Alger and wife, Terry, of Brunswick, and Corey S. Stup of Louisville, Ky.; and grand-nephews, Brad Alger and wife, Stephanie, of Columbia, Andy Alger of Brunswick and Kaleb Welch of Thurmont; and mother-in-law, Ann Musial McElfish of Frederick. He was preceded in death by his father, Floyd K. Waters, in 1990, and his mother, Dora Viola Waters, in 2007. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at Keeney and Basford PA Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 13, at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 116 E. Second St., Frederick, with Deacon John L. Manley officiating and the Rev. Clark Carr co-officiating. Interment will be in St. John's Cemetery between Third, Fourth and East streets. Weather permitting, a procession on foot will follow the funeral to the gravesite, for those who are able. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Frederick County, 108 Byte Drive, Frederick, MD 21702, or to the Thomas F. Waters Scholarship Fund at Footlights, 306 E. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701.