‘Absolutely a kick.’ Performer who entertained Tri-Cities for decades dies

Tri-Cities music and theater fans are mourning the loss of Mary Lou Gnoza, who entertained local audiences for 68 years.

Gnoza, 84, died Monday, March 16.

She had been scheduled to sing at The Emerald of Siam in Richland the night of Saturday, March 14, but after getting dressed for the performance she was short of breath and went to the hospital instead.

“We are deeply saddened to share the loss of a true gem in our community ...,” the thai restaurant and lounge posted in a Facebook announcement of her death. “Mary Lou Gnoza was a staple in our restaurant, providing over 40 years of entertainment for our patrons. She was our family.”

Gnoza had been entertaining Tri-Cities audiences since she won a role in a Richland Light Opera Co. in 1958, when she was a Richland High School student.

She specialized in singing American standards — many of them tunes created in the first half of the 20th century for Hollywood and Broadway musicals and jazz classics.

“Moon River” and “My Funny Valentine” were audience favorites.

Three decades ago she teamed up with pianoman Steve Haberman for the “Mary Lou and Stevie Show.” They played every Wednesday at The Emerald of Siam until the COVID pandemic and then switched to once a month.

They also kept busy performing at other restaurants and lounges and were often booked for parties and events.

When Haberman retired, Gnoza continued performing as the lead singer of a quartet.

She had showmanship, her fans said. She and Haberman not only made beautiful music together, but entertained audiences with their spirited rapport.

“Sassy” is a great word for her, said Dara Quinn, owner of The Emerald of Siam.

For a time Gnoza and Haberman brought their bantor, which they never rehearsed, to a weekly entertainment show on KONA 610 Radio.

“He makes me laugh,” Gnoza said about Haberman in an interview with Northwest News Network. “And sometimes it’s really hard to sing when you’re laughing.”

She didn’t have to be on stage to entertain.

Jane Fox Winslow remembered that Gnoza ran a tight ship when she was general manager of Eagle Printing in the 1990s, but made the workplace fun.

“She was absolutely a kick,” Winslow said. “She sang all the time. We burst into song for no reason.”

Gnoza was much more than an entertainer, said those who admired her.

One person reacted to news of her death on social media, calling her the “glue” to the Tri-Cities arts community.

“She was just very loving and encouraging and a good example of a strong woman,” Quinn said.

She served on the board of Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre, formerly the Richland Light Opera Co., and was the group’s wardrobe mistress and chief costumer until she could no longer climb stairs to access the costume collection, said Margaret Dunn, business manager and treasurer of Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre, and Gnoza’s friend since high school.

Winslow said Gnoza was a mentor, teaching her how to manage people and plan projects and encouraging her as she started her own design business.

Gnoza operated a clothing alteration business, often helping brides get the perfect fit of their wedding dresses, and was known for her own personal style — big red hair and an affinity for sequins and sparkles.

“She always looked good, always was bedazzled,” Quinn said.

Winslow said Gnoza used to joke about her love of anything shiny, telling people “she was probably a crow in a former life.”

Among the musical theater roles longtime Tri-Cities fans may remember her for was the lead in “Hello, Dolly!” in 2001.

She liked any role that called for long dresses and big hats, Dunn said.

She also directed Tri-Cities productions, including a production of “42nd Street” that featured Richland middle school student Santino Fontana.

She liked to tell people “I remember him when ...” the Tony Award-winning Broadway star who graduated from Richland High in 2000 was a kid who was always dancing, Dunn said.

Gnoza outlived two sons, including fellow Tri-Cities musician Tom Gnoza, and is survived by daughter Anne Vorheis, four grandsons and five great grandchildren.

Einan’s at Sunset in Richland is in charge of arrangements and a celebration of life service is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. April 4 at Events at Sunset, 915 Bypass Highway, Building I, Richland. “Glitz, glam and sparkles” are optional, says the event announcement.

To hear Gnoza perform, check out this YouTube video recorded at The Emerald of Siam: bit.ly/4rLGrex.

This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 12:23 PM.