Interesting thread. Stumbled onto it by accident.
When I was a boy growing up in Palmdale, I studied piano with Rowena Roche, also of Palmdale, and had the privilege one time during those years of having Mrs. Roche take me to Mr. Van Saake's home in the hills above Palmdale so I could play piano with him (myself on one of his grand pianos, and him on the other). It was an amazing experience. As a young boy, I recall his house being large, well appointed, and having many paintings. My vague memory of him from that one time was that he was somewhat short in physical stature, and was already well up in years (having all white hair at that time). This would have occurred most likely some time between approx. 1964 and 1969. I wish I remembered more of the conversation that occurred during that one visit, but I don't. It was, nonetheless, memorable.