I had the privilege of meeting her when I was a student around 1971 (Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville). My piano teacher at the time, Ruth Slenczynska, was a good friend of hers. Both women are very tiny, less than five feet tall. But boy could they whip that Steinway D into submission. Miss Slenczynska, now living in New York, is now around 84 and is suffering from macular degeneration I hear. Laroccha was 86
