IN MEMORY 2025

BABA TONY WEST

Tony West was an original founder of Hot Times Festival. He and his wife of 55 years Aziza performed at every single festival since it's inception. His Sunday morning Drum Circle became the hallmark for drummers both experienced and beginners to play together. HIs style included all participants and resulted in a beautiful choir of sound and learning. On the home page of this site is and interview he and Aziza gave to WOSU about his feelings for Hot Times (link below). Tony was our Baba, our mentor and most importantly our friend and he is missed dearly. The Sunday Drum Circle will continue in his honor and be led by his son Ayinde.

To learn more about Tony and Aziza West, please watch this WOSU interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmr9J4fJCo4

PAT FUNDERBERG

Pat loved dance and exercise and founded “Pat Funderburg’s Exercise to Afro-Rhythms.” Pat studied fitness and sports management at Columbus State Community College, and liberal arts at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut. She was a certified group exercise instructor and taught group fitness courses for Central Community House and Community Properties of Ohio (CPO Impact) and was a fitness consultant to the Central Ohio Diabetes Association. She was an exceptional person and spirit. Her absence will be felt forever by all who loved her.

ERNEST LEVERT

From the very beginning, Ernest’s life was marked with a sense of strength and honor in service to others. Ernest found his place on the front line of life, defending those in danger of being overrun by the greed of capitalism, passed over by the politically empowered and privileged, and filling in the gaps of hopelessness that make the community vulnerable to despair and demise. He began to focus on youth workforce and community development. This evolution helped him embrace his calling as “The Chess Guy” as he expanded his work as an entrepreneur, educator and thought-provoking community leader. In 2014, Ernest founded The Royal Oak Initiative (ROI), an innovative chess-based social agency that uses the wisdom of chess to protect, heal and build community by cultivating collective wellness, mindfulness and critical thinking. Through his work with ROI, Ernest used chess to transform lives through chess-based community gatherings, leadership development training, enrichment experiences and more. Ernest brought the Big Chess board and pieces to Hot Times and enjoyed the interaction with kids and adults alike as he taught the basics of the game to all who came to play. His spirit and smile will always be missed at Hot Times.