Mary Ann Dodd died January 1 in Cooperstown, New York. She was University Organist Emerita at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where she had served as university organist and special instructor in organ from 1973–93. In 1976 she selected Holtkamp to build the three-manual Brehmer Memorial Organ. She also taught at the State University of New York in Binghamton as an adjunct lecturer 1987–90 and as the Link Visiting Professor in organ in 1989.
Born and raised in Pullman, Washington, Dodd held the BMus degree from the University of Arkansas (1956) and the MMus degree from the University of Tennessee (1971). She performed and lectured throughout the United States with special emphasis on contemporary organ music. An active member of the American Guild of Organists, she had been a member of its national committee on new music and the committee for the AGO improvisation competition, and served on the national council as Region II councillor. Her reviews and articles appeared frequently in The American Organist and The Diapason. She was co-author (with Jayson Engquist) of the book Gardner Read: A Bio-bibliography (1996). At the time of her death, Mary Ann Dodd was working on a book on contemporary organ music, focusing on the career of the late Leonard Raver.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Jack G. Dodd, a son, a daughter, and three grandchildren.
H. Ronald Poll, age 70, passed away January 28 at home in Salt Lake City, Utah. A charter member of the American Institute of Organbuilders, he served three years as the organization’s president. He also served on several committees and was dedicated to strong positive goals, art and technology, and in furthering the cause, reputation and expansion of true pipe organs.
Ron’s love for the pipe organ had its roots as a young boy when he and his brother David would sit for hours listening to their organist mother’s 78-rpm, and later 331⁄3-rpm LP, recordings. He was impressed with the beauty and musical expression of the pipe organ.
After a time with the Utah National Guard and service as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ron worked for a period doing installation, voicing and tuning with his M. P. Möller representative brother David, the Wicks Organ Co., and others. He was employed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an organ technician and supervisor. Among the dozens of organs he worked on is the Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle instrument of G. Donald Harrison.
Ron organized his own organ building and service firm, H. Ronald Poll & Associates, employing two sons, Michael and Timothy, who are continuing the firm’s operation. Ron’s code was well stated by Henry Ward Beecher: “Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself.” Ron constantly sought for perfection. He was faithful to the highest ethical and performance standards and in bringing joy to others through his creation.
Ron worked on many instruments from coast to coast. Among his more recent accomplishments are the three-manual instruments for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City and the Provo L.D.S. Tabernacle.
Ron is survived by his wife, Mary, nine children, 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, his mother, four brothers and five sisters. Services were held February 2 in Taylorsville, Utah, where Mormon Tabernacle organist Clay Christiansen provided the music on one of Ron’s smaller instruments.
—David Poll
Bruce V. Schantz died on January 5 in Orrville, Ohio, at the age of 93. Born October 17, 1913, in Orrville, he began studies at Oberlin College, but left to handle the sales department of the Schantz Organ Company with his cousin Paul Schantz. He covered territory in Ohio and Indiana during the Depression and took night classes at the University of Akron. He was hired by Goodyear Aircraft just before the U.S. entered World War II, and worked there in management during the war years. He then returned to Orrville to join the family business. Bruce Schantz managed the Schantz Organ Company along with his brother John, his son Victor, his cousin Paul, and Jack Sievert. He served as the company’s president, chairman of the board, and chairman emeritus. He was involved in many community projects, including the transformation of the Community Chest into the Orrville United Way and chairing the drive that made Wayne College possible. He was a past president of the Orrville Chamber of Commerce and the Exchange Club. In 1970 he was named the Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year for the City of Orrville. He is survived by his wife Grace, two daughters, five sons, a brother, and 12 grandchildren. A funeral was held January 13 at Christ Church, United Church of Christ, and a memorial service was held January 21 at Wayne College.
Malcolm Wechsler died November 16, 2006 in New Fairfield, Connecticut, at the age of 70. Born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, he studied piano as a child and earned a bachelor’s in organ performance at Oberlin College. In 1963 he received a master’s in organ performance from the Juilliard School of Music. He held a number of church positions and in 1966 was appointed music director at St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in London, Ontario, also teaching at the University of Western Ontario. He later taught at Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario. In 1985 Wechsler returned to New York to work with the Opera Orchestra of New York and begin Ph.D. studies at City College of New York. In 1987 he was appointed American sales representative for N. P. Mander, and in 1994 he became organist of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Stamford, Connecticut. An active member of the AGO and the OHS, he reported on the OHS conventions in 2001 (North Carolina) and 2003 (Pennsylvania) for The Diapason. A funeral service was held at St. Andrew’s Church on November 21, 2006.
Martin H. Wittig, 66, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, died at his home on January 18. Born August 12, 1940 in Waymart, Pennsylvania, he was a Vietnam War veteran who served with the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa, Japan. At the time of his death, he was organist at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Little Rock. He previously served as organist at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in North Little Rock. His many business ventures included ownership of a gas station and three car washes. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Diane Wittig, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
