John William Travis, 81, a piano technician who headed two national professional piano associations, died of respiratory arrest April 2 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. A resident of Takoma Park, he had lived in the Washington area since 1942.

Mr. Travis retired in 1992. He began working here with the Campbell Music Co., the local representative for Steinway pianos. He became self-employed in the early 1950s. He was the author of two books, "Let's Tune Up" and "A Guide to Restringing," and taught a course in piano tuning at Montgomery College.