Welcome to the Niagara Falls Blues Festival!
Hello friends of the Niagara Falls Blues Festival and The Imperial Garage. It is with a heavy and broken heart that I must now share my beloved Toby with Muddy Waters and all the Blues Greats that have left us. May the champagne and blessed blues sooth their everlasting souls. ~Sherry
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Thomas “Toby” Rotella – ObituaryThomas Philip “Toby” Rotella, of Key Largo, FL and Ransomville, NY died after a long illness on March 12, 2023, at the age of 82.
Toby is survived by his beloved life partner Sherry Kushner, sons Sean (Kim) Rotella, Aaron (Paula) Rotella, Marcus (Jaimie) Ganci-Rotella and brother Richard (Colleen) Rotella. He was predeceased by his parents Carmela (Julian) and Dominic Rotella, daughter Remy (Rotella) Orlowski, former wife Carole Rajczak, brothers Dominic Rotella, Paul Rotella, sister Marylou Rotella Lunsford, and nephew David “Toby” Rotella. Born April 11, 1940, in Niagara Falls, NY, he was educated in the school of hard knocks (as well as Trott Vocational High School). Toby would often say “I am not your regular guy”. He owned several service stations around Niagara Falls, was an avid drag racer, and was most proud of his 40’s Willys Coupe. He was an uber skilled mechanic and employed by the local Chrysler dealer as well as Vic’s, Chevron, and Tom Gallagher’s, in Key Largo. He often would remark that he was the best cook in the Keys and anyone who ate his catfish would attest to that! He had a deep affection for his many cats over the years, especially Martin Buck and Phoebe a/k/a Fido. Demonstrating his incredible entrepreneurial spirit, Toby opened the Imperial Garage in 1980 following a yearlong effort to rebuild a dilapidated old, condemned building on 3rd Street in Niagara Falls. |
This legendary venue hosted some of the greatest blues musicians to ever pick up an instrument; John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan are among only a few of the renowned artists to have visited the Imperial Garage. During his time owning and operating the Imperial Garage, Toby became close with Muddy Waters after his mother’s spaghetti and sweet potato pie opened the door for this unlikely friendship.
For the past fourteen years, Toby has been the driving force behind the Niagara Falls Blues Festival. This event grew out of a series of reunion concerts that memorialized the Imperial Garage’s legacy. Toby and his team were able to bring some of the world’s greatest blues acts to the stage in downtown Niagara Falls. The festival attracted tens of thousands of
people from all around the United States and Canada. The Blues Festival has made a lasting impact on the local economy, cemented Niagara Falls as a favorite destination for musicians, and prompted the mayor to provide Toby with the key to the City of Niagara Falls. Toby’s vision and connections to the music industry opened many doors that will remain a part of the Blues
Festival for years to come.
A funeral service is scheduled at Dubois Funeral Home, 2436 Niagara Road, Niagara Falls, NY on Saturday March 18 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM to be followed by a celebration of his life from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Please feel free to wear Bluesfest or Imperial Garage attire.
For the past fourteen years, Toby has been the driving force behind the Niagara Falls Blues Festival. This event grew out of a series of reunion concerts that memorialized the Imperial Garage’s legacy. Toby and his team were able to bring some of the world’s greatest blues acts to the stage in downtown Niagara Falls. The festival attracted tens of thousands of
people from all around the United States and Canada. The Blues Festival has made a lasting impact on the local economy, cemented Niagara Falls as a favorite destination for musicians, and prompted the mayor to provide Toby with the key to the City of Niagara Falls. Toby’s vision and connections to the music industry opened many doors that will remain a part of the Blues
Festival for years to come.
A funeral service is scheduled at Dubois Funeral Home, 2436 Niagara Road, Niagara Falls, NY on Saturday March 18 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM to be followed by a celebration of his life from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Please feel free to wear Bluesfest or Imperial Garage attire.