Wally Fenn

(December 31, 1920 - January 7, 2014)

Wally Fenn was one of the early recruits to the Westerly Morris Men, joining the 2 year old team at the tender age of 55. He continued dancing for decades, including 4 dance tours of Britain. At one point in his early 80s, Wally was confined to a nursing home because of injuries sustained while collapsing after getting food poisoning. We thought his dancing career was over, but no, he just needed to heal before strapping on his bells again!

His last public performance was at Westerly Twelfth Night in 2011, just after his 90th birthday. His last dance with the team was on February 28, 2012, the last time we had a practice in our clubhouse, the office of the late George Utter. Somehow, we were not told to vacate the premises until nearly a year after George passed on. Sincere thanks to whomever it was who let us stay so long.

And special thanks to the Fates, random chance and clean living, or the deity-of-your-choice for letting Wally have such a long, productive, and happy life, and letting him share it with us. He was a special, wonderful man, and we will miss him.


February 28, 2012 (Wendy Zecchino)	Wally and Carol Fenn, with Herb Nickel (L) and Everett Munro (R) Scotland 8/13/87	Wally and the Men Dancing at Traquair House Scotland 8/16/87	Wally and the Men Dancing at the Canterbury Fair (© 7/27/97 Concord Monitor)

Wally Dancing with the Men One Final Time at the late George Utter's Office, above the old location of the Blue Mitten Thrift Shop in Westerly, Rhode Island, February 28, 2012. (Wendy Zecchino)

Click the photos for higher resolution original photos.

For a more full accounting of Wally's life, see The New London Day Obituary.

The Westerly Morris Men

Westerly, Rhode Island, USA

Wally Fenn

(December 31, 1920 - January 7, 2014)