Nunc Dimittis

Stefania Björnson Denbow died October 18 in Athens, Ohio. She was 91. Born in Minneota, Minnesota, to Icelandic immigrants, she earned BA and MA degrees from the University of Minnesota, where she studied organ with Arthur Poister, and where she established an organ scholarship a decade ago. A homemaker, organist, scholar of Greek history and art history, and composer, Denbow based a number of her compositions on Icelandic poetry. Her works included Surtsey String Quintet, Four Songs of the Eremite Isle, Magnificat, an anthem based on Jesus, Thou Divine Companion, and Exaltatio, which was premiered by G. Dene Barnard at the First Congregational Church in Columbus, Ohio, later broadcast on Pipedreams, and also performed in Germany by Stephen Tharp. Stefania Denbow served as a church organist, including at the Church of the Good Shepherd and Christ Lutheran Church, in Athens, Ohio. She was a member of the Southeast Ohio AGO chapter, Mu Phi Epsilon, and Phi Alpha Theta. Stefania Denbow is survived by two daughters, a son, six grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and nieces and nephews.

Constance Hunter Greenwell (Connie) died on February 8. Born in 1927 in Knoxville, Tennessee, she was a long-time member of the Dallas chapter of the American Guild of Organists; she served as membership secretary, and as hospitality chair for the 1994 AGO national convention in Dallas. She was a church organist and her other interests included horses, sailing, and travel. Constance Hunter Greenwell was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Gene.

Joel H. Kuznik, 72, died on April 3 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, where he had been since suffering a stroke in late February. Born June 29, 1936 in Waukegan, Illinois, he began his education at the local public school, but then attended Northwestern Prep and College in Watertown, Wisconsin to begin studying for the ministry, later attending Concordia Senior College in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where he received a BA summa cum laude in 1959.
Realizing that he was called to the ministry of sacred music, he entered Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received a Master of Divinity in 1962. Joel often spoke of his Vicarage year at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as one of the best years of his life. During his last year at seminary, he studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he received a Master of Music degree in 1963.
Kuznik was ready for a call in 1963, but the seminary offered a year-long fellowship that led to his Master of Sacred Theology in 1969. He was ordained a pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waukegan, Illinois, in August 1964. He began his career as a professor at Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was assistant professor of religion and conductor of the college choir. In 1966 he received a call from his alma mater, Concordia Senior College, where he became associate professor of music and college organist through 1976. In 1975 he spent a sabbatical leave in Paris, Haarlem, and Cambridge.
When the college closed in 1976, Joel moved to New York. In 1979 he began his career in the insurance industry, retiring in 1995 from MetLife. Most recently, he served as assistant pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, New York City, until August 2008. At the time of his death, he was serving as an assistant priest at St. Luke in the Fields Episcopal Church.
Joel’s love affair with organ music (and Bach in particular) began very early in his life. He would call Bach “The fifth Evangelist,” and once he retired he began to become involved again in organizations and activities that celebrated Bach’s music and life. He attended the Bachfest in Leipzig in 2003, which was the beginning of a flurry of activity centered around anything related to classical music, the organ and most often Bach. He has over 60 articles in print and was working on at least three new articles at the time of his death.
Joel Kuznik was named to the Music Critics Society of North America in May 2005. He was a member of the American Bach Society and served on the board of the Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York. He was a long time member of the American Guild of Organists and served as dean of the Ft. Wayne chapter, on the executive board of the New York City chapter, and on the national financial board. He studied organ with Austin C. Lovelace, Frederick Swann, Ronald Arnatt, David Craighead, Jean Langlais, Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier and Anton Heiller.
—Sean M. Scheller

Jacques Mequet Littlefield died January 7 at the age of 59 in Portola Valley, California. A member of the Peninsula AGO chapter, Littlefield received bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Stanford University, where he studied under Stanford University organist Herbert Nanney; a large 45-stop Fisk organ is housed in a custom-built hall attached to his home. He worked for Hewlett-Packard as a manufacturing engineer before focusing solely on building his museum and restoration facility for his collection of more than 150 military vehicles, which included a World War II-era U.S. Army M3A1 wheeled scout car, a Soviet-era Scud missile launcher, and Sherman and Patton tanks. In 1998, Littlefield set up the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation, to manage the collection and help serve the interests of authors, historians, veterans groups, and others. Jacques Littlefield is survived by his wife, Sandy Montenegro Littlefield, five children, his mother, brother, sister, and a grandson.

Jeffrey M. Peterson, 48, of Staunton, Virginia, passed away in Erie, Pennsylvania on January 18. Born in Erie June 9, 1960, he was the son of Ronald and Virginia Buzanowski Peterson, and graduated from Fort LeBeouf High School, Erie, Pennsylvania. He was a pipe maker, first with Rodgers Organ Company in Hillsboro, Oregon, then at Organ Supply Industries in Erie, Pennsylvania. Since 1997 he worked at Taylor & Boody Organ Builders in Staunton, Virginia.
Peterson enjoyed his Harley and was a member of A.B.A.T.E. He was a hunter and enjoyed shooting and playing cards, and belonged to the Moose Club in Virginia. He is survived by his parents, Ronald and Virginia, of Summit Township, two brothers, Chris Peterson of Staunton and Brian Peterson, of Erie; a nephew, Nicholas Peterson and a niece, Laura Peterson.
—John H. Boody

Clyde J. “Cj” Sambach, age 60, died in Brick, New Jersey on February 27. He earned a degree in organ performance from Westminster Choir College; he served as organist-choir director at Holmdel Community Church, and as organist at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church in Clark, New Jersey. Sambach concertized extensively and was a frequent conference clinician; he developed a special program, The Pipe Organ INformance®, to interest young people in the organ. Using large display posters, organ pipes, musical excerpts, and simple explanations, Sambach provided a basic understanding of the instrument from both the performer’s and the listener’s viewpoints. He also worked at Ocean County College and at Ocean County Vocational and Technical School in their accounting department. Cj Sambach is predeceased by his parents, Warren and Thalia Sambach; he is survived by his brothers Warren and Dean, cousins, and longtime friend Anthony Snyder.

Richard Hillert died February 18. He was Distinguished Professor of Music Emeritus at Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Illinois, and was best known for his work as a composer and composition teacher. One of his most noted works is Worthy Is Christ, of which “This is the Feast of Victory” has been widely published in various worship books.
Hillert received his bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia, and master’s and doctoral degrees in composition from Northwestern University. He also studied composition with Italian composer Goffredo Petrassi. Hillert taught at Concordia from 1959 to 2003. He edited eleven volumes of the Concordia Hymn Prelude Series and was associate editor of the journal Church Music (1966–80).
Hillert’s compositions and publications include liturgical music for congregation, choral motets, hymns and hymn anthems, psalm settings and organ works, concertatos, and cantatas, including settings of The Christmas Story According to Saint Luke and The Passion According to Saint John. Richard Hillert is survived by his wife Gloria Bonnin Hillert, and children Kathryn Brewer, Virginia Hillert, and Jonathan Hillert.

Rev. Richard D. Howell died January 26 in Dallas, Texas. Born June 24, 1932 in Great Bend, Kansas, he earned a master of sacred music degree from Southern Methodist University, and was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church. He started playing for church services at age 13, and went on to serve numerous United Methodist congregations in Texas and taught elementary music for the Richardson and Dallas school districts. He played for children’s, youth, and adult choirs and directed handbell choirs, serving as the chairman of the Dallas Handbell Festival. He was active in many organizations, including the American Guild of Organists, Choristers Guild, and the Fellowship of United Methodist Musicians. Richard D. Howell is survived by his wife of 52 years, Bradley Sue Howell, children Mark and Teri Howell, Celeste and Martin Hlavenka, and Jane Walker, along with grandchildren, sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Richard Proulx died February 18 at age 72. From 1980 to 1994, he was organist–music director at the Cathedral of the Holy Name in Chicago, where he was also responsible for the planning and installation of two new mechanical-action organs for the cathedral: Casavant II/19 (Quebec, 1981) and Flentrop IV/71 (Holland, 1989). Before coming to Chicago, he served at St. Thomas Church, Medina/Seattle (1970–1980), and was organist at Temple de Hirsch Sinai. Previous positions included St. Charles Parish, Tacoma; St. Stephen’s Church, Seattle; and 15 years (1953–1968) at the Church of the Holy Childhood in St. Paul.
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, he attended MacPhail College and the University of Minnesota, with further studies undertaken at the American Boychoir School at Princeton, St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, and the Royal School of Church Music in England. He studied organ with Ruth Dindorf, Arthur Jennings, Rupert Sircom, Gerald Bales, and Peter Hallock; choral conducting with Bruce Larsen, Donald Brost, and Peter Hallock; composition with Leopold Bruenner, Theodore Ganshaw, Bruce Larsen, and Gerald Bales.
Proulx was a widely published composer of more than 300 works, including congregational music, sacred and secular choral works, song cycles, two operas, and instrumental and organ music. He served as consultant for The Hymnal 1982, the New Yale Hymnal, the Methodist Hymnal, Worship II and III, and contributed to the Mennonite Hymnal and the Presbyterian Hymnal.

Phyllis J. Stringham, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, died February 12 at the age of 79. Born January 30, 1931 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Calvin College and a Master of Music degree in organ performance at the University of Michigan. Her organ teachers included John Hamersma, Robert Noehren, and Marilyn Mason. She pursued additional study at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France, studying with Nadia Boulanger and André Marchal. In 1966 she studied with Marie-Claire Alain and Anton Heiller at the Summer Academy for Organists in Haarlem, Holland. While on sabbatical leave in 1972, she spent five months studying at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria. Further study was done at the Eastman School of Music with Russell Saunders, and with Delbert Disselhorst at the University of Iowa.
For 43 years, Stringham was Professor of Music and College Organist at Carroll University, Waukesha, Wisconsin (1959–2002). After retirement from teaching, she retained her position as College Organist and Curator of the Organ. In 2007 she was named Organist Emeritus. Her earlier teaching career began at Chatham Hall, an Episcopal school in Virginia. She is listed in Who’s Who in the World of Music. From the late 1960s to 2007 she operated the Phyllis Stringham Concert Management agency. She served the AGO as dean of the Milwaukee chapter and as Wisconsin State Chair.
Phyllis Stringham is survived by her brother James A. (Gladys), nephews, many grandnephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. A memorial service was held February 18 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Waukesha.

Gail Walton, director of music at the University of Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart, died February 24 in Indianapolis after a long illness. She was 55 years old. Dr. Walton had served as director of music in the Basilica since 1988, directing the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir as well as the Basilica Schola, which she founded in 1989. She held degrees from Westminster Choir College and the Eastman School of Music, where she earned the doctor of musical arts degree in organ performance, and was awarded the performer’s certificate. Before joining the basilica staff, she taught organ at Goshen College.
Gail Walton performed throughout the midwestern United States and played concerts in the German cities of Bonn, Heidenheim, Mainz, and Rottenburg/Neckar in the summer of 1991. In the summer of 1995, she took the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir on a tour of Italy, giving performances in Florence, Milan, Assisi, and Rome. She frequently played duo recitals with her husband, organist and Notre Dame music professor Craig Cramer.

Allan Wicks, a leading cathedral organist of his generation, died February 4 at age 86. He played a crucial role during the 1950s and 60s in bringing modern works by Messiaen, Maxwell Davies, Stravinsky, and Britten into the regular cathedral repertory. Born in Harden, Yorkshire, on June 6, 1923, the son of a clergyman, Wicks became organ scholar at Christ Church, Oxford in 1942, where he studied under Thomas Armstrong. He became sub-organist at York Minster in 1947, then in 1954 organist and master of the choristers of Manchester Cathedral. During his time there, he oversaw the rebuilding of the war-damaged organ, and championed the music of Peter Maxwell Davies and Malcolm Williamson. He also regularly conducted Stravinsky’s Canticum Sacrum.
In 1961 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers of Canterbury Cathedral, a post he held until 1988.There he regularly performed music by such composers as Messiaen, Ligeti, Tippett, Lennox Berkeley, and Alan Ridout. Wicks made several recordings, released on LP but yet to be issued on CD, of works by Alan Ridout, Messiaen (notably La nativité du Seigneur), Bach, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Franck, Widor, Alain and Reger. Wicks retired from Canterbury in 1988, having served under three archbishops and taught several generations of choristers.

Charles E. Hallman, 81, died on April 18. Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Springfield Twp. High School in 1948 and served in the U.S. Army National Guard in Germany during the Korean War. Mr. Hallman began his career as a pipe organ technician in 1948 with Frederick Burness, and in 1967, with Howard Gamble and Alan Furman, established Burness Associates. He was also state qualified in basic fire fighting and had been a member of the Abington Twp. and Springfield Twp. volunteer fire companies. Charles E. Hallman is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anne (Bower) Hallman, four daughters, twelve grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and a sister.

John H. Melcher died at his home in Elgin, Illinois, June 27, after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 73. Born in Perth, Ontario, Canada on March 1, 1936, John Melcher came with his family to the United States when he was still young. He attended Steinmetz High School in Chicago, and gained his U.S. citizenship through service in the U.S. Air Force. He received a bachelor’s degree from Beloit College, a master’s from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary. He studied organ with Leo Sowerby, Robert Noehren, and Flor Peeters, and harpsichord with Isolde Ahlgrimm. He studied conducting with Margaret Hillis and Robert Shaw, and voice with Thomas Wikman and Henri Noel.
Melcher’s longest appointment was his over thirty years as the music director of the Northwest Choral Society. A member of the American Guild of Organists, he served as organist-choirmaster at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Chicago (1968–71), St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Des Plaines (1971–80), and Morgan Park Methodist Church (1980–83); then as minister of music at the First United Methodist Church in Park Ridge (1983–97). He joined the staff of Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois, in 1997, serving as cantor, organist, choral and handbell choir director. In March 2006, Melcher joined Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin as director of music ministries.
In 1998, Melcher joined the staff of the Suzuki School of Elgin, where through March 2008 he served as accompanist and coach for the ensemble classes. From 1999–2007, he conducted the ELCA Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Swing Choir for high school students in its summer choir tour of southern and central Illinois. John H. Melcher is survived by his long-time partner, John Morrison.

William “Bill” D. Usher II died April 30 in Los Angeles at the age of 40. He studied at Westminster Choir College and received a bachelor’s degree in organ performance and church music from the University of Louisville, and a master’s degree in organ performance from the University of Southern California. His organ studies were with Searle Wright, Donald McDonald, Melvin Dickinson, and Cherry Rhodes. Usher served at Parsippany United Methodist Church in Parsippany, New Jersey, St. Stephen United Church of Christ in Louisville, the Church of the Incarnation in Glendale, California, and St. Mel Roman Catholic Church in Woodland Hills, California. He was director of music at Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown, District of Columbia (parish of President John F. Kennedy) from 1995–2006; there he led the music ministry of the 3,500-household parish and established the Music at Trinity concert series. At the time of his death, he was director of music and organist at St. Gregory the Great Church in Whittier, California, which also began a concert series, featuring Usher’s Mass in Honor of St. Jude at its inaugural event in 2008. William D. Usher II is survived by his domestic partner, Christopher Sioco, his mother, Marjorie M. Usher, sisters Valerie S. Usher and Vickie Morf, and two nieces.

D. DeWitt Wasson of Cornwall, Pennsylvania, died June 23 at age 88. He earned the Diploma in Sacred Music from Nyack Missionary Training Institute, a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Baptist Seminary, a master’s and doctorate in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary. He held church music positions in Virginia, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania, and was a reviewer of organ music reviewer for The American Organist. He edited the two-volume Free Harmonizations of Hymn Tunes published by Hinshaw Music and the three-volume Hymntune Index and Related Hymn Materials published by Rowman and Littlefield. He played fifty organ concerts in Europe on alternate years and represented America in numerous international organ festivals. He was founder and musical director of the Westchester Baroque Chorus and Orchestra for more than thirty years and dean of the Westchester County, New York AGO chapter 1961–63 and 1985–87. He established a research collection of organ music at the Westminster Choir College of Ryder University in Princeton, New Jersey. D. DeWitt Wasson married Josephine Diener in June 1947; she died in January of this year.

John Ogasapian, of
Pepperell, Massachusetts, died in Los Angeles on July 11, shortly after he was
diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and liver. He was 64. Dr. Ogasapian was
professor of music at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, where he had taught
since 1965. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ
and a Ph.D. in musicology from Boston University, where he was a student of the
late George Faxon. He was organist and choirmaster of St. Anne’s
Episcopal Church in Lowell 1961-99, and interim organist and choirmaster
of All Saints Church in Worcester, Massachusetts 2002-03. He authored or
edited eight books and published over a hundred articles, essays and reviews in
many journals including The Diapason. The Organ Historical
Society honored him with its Distinguished Service Award in 1994 and the
designation of Honorary Member in 2000.

Dr. Ogasapian served as editor of The Tracker: Journal of
the Organ Historical Society
(1993’2000) and was a contributing editor of Journal of Church
Music (1985’1988). He was chairman of
the 1978 OHS national convention in Lowell, Massachusetts, and chairman of the
2000 OHS American Organ Archives Symposium in Princeton, New Jersey.

His books include Litterae Organi: Essays in Honor of
Barbara Owen (edited by Ogasapian and
others; he also contributed an essay; OHS Press, 2005); Music of the
Colonial and Revolutionary Era (Greenwood
Press, 2004); The Varieties of Musicology: Essays in Honor of Murray
Lefkowitz (edited by John Daverio and John
Ogasapian, Harmonie Park Press, 2000); English Cathedral Music in New
York: Edward Hodges of Trinity Church (Organ
Historical Society, 1994); Church Organs: A Guide to Selection &
Purchase (Baker Book House, 1983, AGO &
OHS collaboration, 1990); Henry Erben: Portrait of a
Nineteenth-Century American Organ Builder
(Organ Literature Foundation, 1980); Organ Building in New York City:
1700’1900 (Organ Literature
Foundation, 1977). He was working on a ninth book, Music Culture in
the Guilded Age: Civil War to World War I,
at the time of his death.

He played his last recital on May 25 at Methuen Memorial
Music Hall, featuring works by Paine, Buck, Chadwick, Foote, Parker, Hovhaness,
Still, Rogers, Beach, and Matthews. His memorial service was held at All Saints
Church, Worcester, on July 30. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Nancy,
their daughter and son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

L. Robert Slusser
died May 29 in San Diego at the age of 83. He had served as minister of music
at La Jolla Presbyterian Church in California from 1968 to 1989. Born October
13, 1921, in Chicago, he studied piano and organ at the American Conservatory
of Music and was assistant organist to Leo Sowerby at St. James Cathedral.
During World War II he served as a lieutenant in the Navy. He earned a
bachelor’s degree in music at San Jose State College and served as
organist and assistant choirmaster at First Presbyterian Church, San Jose. He
received a master’s degree in organ from Northwestern University in 1953
and served as minister of music at First Presbyterian Church, Birmingham,
Michigan until 1968. In 1960 he was co-chair of the AGO national convention in
Detroit. When he was appointed to La Jolla Presbyterian Church, he developed
multiple choirs, string and brass ensembles, a Christian dance group, and a
Choir Festival series. Slusser was dean of the San Diego AGO chapter
1971’72 and was responsible for bringing many famous organists to San
Diego. In 1986 he received an honorary doctorate from Tarko College in St.
Louis. He is survived by his wife Shirley, two daughters, a son, two
grandchildren and two great-grandchilden. A service celebrating his life was
held on July 16 at La Jolla Presbyterian Church.

Ruth Virginia Sutton
died April 19 at her home in Ypsilanti, Michigan, after a long battle with
cancer. She was 59. Born May 12, 1945 in Detroit, Michigan, she graduated from
Wayne Memorial High School and then attended Capitol University. She
transferred to Eastern Michigan University where she earned bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in music. Mrs. Sutton served as a local piano
teacher for over 40 years, was organist at various area churches, accompanist
for the Ann Arbor Cantata Singers, and also the Walled Lake and Ypsilanti High
School choir programs. She is survived by her husband Ronald Sutton, two
daughters, and a granddaughter. Funeral services took place on April 22 at
First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor.

Bob G. Whitley died
July 31 at his home in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, from liver cancer. He was 76.
For more than 30 years he was organist and choir director at Fox Chapel
Episcopal Church. Whitley grew up in Oklahoma and was a 1951 graduate of the
University of Oklahoma at Norman. He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to
attend the Royal School of Church Music, then in Canterbury, England. He also
studied organ at the Royal College of Music in London and played recitals in
Canterbury Cathedral and Dover Town Hall. He served in the Army during the
Korean War, and was organist and director of music at the Letterman Army
Hospital Chapel at the Presidio in San Francisco. After the Army, he was
appointed organist at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, San Francisco, where
he helped design and oversee the installation of a 55-rank Aeolian-Skinner
organ. In 1964, Whitley was appointed to Fox Chapel Episcopal Church. He also
directed the Pittsburgh Savoyards, a Gilbert & Sullivan opera company, the
Shady Side Academy Glee Club, and the glee club at The Ellis School. After
leaving Fox Chapel Episcopal Church in 1999, Whitley served as organist and choir
director at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fox Chapel, where he remained
until his retirement last year.

Fayola Foltz Ash died March 15 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at age 85. Born in Lansing, Michigan, February 24, 1926, she received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1948. She taught piano for over 50 years, mostly in Ann Arbor, was organist at First Methodist Church, Chelsea, for over 15 years, and directed the children’s choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor, for many years. She was a member of the American Guild of Organistsand the Ann Arbor Area Piano Teacher’s Guild. Ash accompanied many soloists and substituted at various churches as choir director, organist, and pianist.

George Evans Boyer died March 16 in Pennsylvania. He was 64. A graduate of St. Clair High School, West Chester University (1969), and Temple University (1974), Boyer was director of choral activities at William Allen High School in the Allentown School District from 1970–2000, and local sales representative of the Allen Organ Company following his retirement from teaching. Boyer served as a music director and organist for 49 years, at Temple Beth El Synagogue, St. John’s UCC, St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, and Christ Lutheran Church (all in Allentown), and Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Yonkers, New York. He also led European summer tours, and was a member of many musical organizations, including the New York City AGO chapter. George Evans Boyer is survived by his wife of 40 years, Susan Carol Boyer, and a cousin.

Jeanne Norman Briggs died March 30 in Hartwick, New York, at the age of 61. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho in 1972, and studied with Claire Coci at the American Music Academy in New Jersey. Briggs had played recitals in Europe and New York City, and served as organist for the First United Presbyterian Church in Oneonta, and for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in New Berlin. She was a member of the Oneonta AGO chapter. Jeanne Norman Briggs is survived by her husband John, whom she married in 1980, two stepchildren, two brothers, a sister, and her caregiver.

Otis Herbert Colvin Jr. died January 21 in Waco, Texas, at the age of 87. He earned a BA from Baylor University in 1944, and then served in the Navy during World War II, until 1946, when he returned to Baylor and earned his music degree in 1948, followed by an MMus degree from the University of Colorado in 1950. Colvin earned his PhD from the Eastman School of Music in 1958. He taught music for five years at Texas Tech University; at Baylor University he taught music theory, piano, and carillon for more than 40 years, and was university carillonneur. As a pianist and organist, Colvin served in Waco at Central Christian, Columbus Avenue Baptist, and Seventh and James Baptist churches. He was a member of the AGO, and was a 32nd degree Baptist Mason. A composer and editor of music, his compositions include organ voluntaries based on early American hymn tunes, and other organ works. Otis Herbert Colvin Jr. is survived by his wife Mary Ila Colvin, three daughters, a sister, a brother, six grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters.

Virginia Herrmann died at age 96, on March 17 in Storrs, Connecticut. She graduated from Indiana University, and earned master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Yale University, where she studied with Paul Hindemith. While at Yale, she met and married Heinz Herrmann, her husband of 65 years; they moved to Storrs in 1955, where she was appointed adjunct organ professor at the University of Connecticut, and music director-organist at St. Mark’s Chapel. Herrmann had studied the Chinese language and Asian music, and had edited several collections of Asian music. In 2005, the Herrmanns established the Heinz and Virginia
Herrmann Distinguished Lecture Series on Human Rights and the Life Sciences at the University of Connecticut. Virginia Herrmann is survived by a daughter, a niece, and many friends.
Sebron Yates Hood Jr., 79 years old, died December 17, 2010, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He began playing piano for the Matthews Baptist Church in Matthews, North Carolina, while in high school; he received his bachelor’s degree in music from Erskine College in 1953, and an MSM in 1955 from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where he studied with Vernon deTar. From 1955–65 Hood served as organist and choirmaster at Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and at Trinity Episcopal Church from 1967 until his retirement in 1992. He was a past dean of the Charlotte AGO chapter, a founding member of the Strand AGO chapter, and of the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte. Sebron Yates Hood Jr. is survived by his wife of 54 years, Belle Miller Spivey Hood, a daughter, two sons, a brother, seven grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Sarah Fant Jones died March 26 in Union, South Carolina. She studied at Converse College and Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music in New York City. She had served as organist for area churches that included Cane Creek Presbyterian Church, the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Grace United Methodist Church, and First Presbyterian Church. A member of the Spartanburg AGO chapter, Jones and her family helped to secure the 1954 III/30 Schantz organ at the First Baptist Church of Union; in 1995 the instrument was restored and expanded by Schantz. Sarah Fant Jones is survived by four nephews.

David A. Pizarro, 79 years old, died February 23 in Nyack, New York. He studied at Yale University School of Music, where he earned a BMus in 1952 and an MMus in 1953; he was the recipient of a Fulbright grant from 1953–55 at the State Academy of Detmold, Germany. Pizarro had studied organ with Norman Coke-Jephcott, Michael Schneider, and Marcel Dupré. A visiting faculty member at the University of North Carolina in 1960–61, Pizarro held positions at North Carolina State College, Durham, in 1962–65, and was on the faculty of the Longy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1965–71. He served as organist-choirmaster at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on the campus of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, from 1972–74, as master of the choristers at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 1974–77, and as organist at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, New York, 1983–96, and Sinai Temple in Mount Vernon from 1985–89. Pizarro was a member of the Royal College of Organists, a fellow of Trinity College of Music, London, and the Westminster AGO chapter; he had served the Durham AGO chapter as dean from 1962–65.

John Albert Stokes died May 15 in Princeton, New Jersey. Born December 21, 1937, he lived in New Brunswick and Princeton. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1961–1964. A self-taught musician, organist, and composer, Stokes worked as a pipe organ builder and piano tuner. For many years he served as organist for the Sayreville United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Middlesex, Monmouth, and Central Jersey AGO chapters. His compositions were played at many AGO members’ recitals, including a favorite Ode to St. Lucy’s Day. In addition, his skills as an organ builder were used for education, giving demonstrations and presentations to colleagues, providing old pipes for educational purposes. John Albert Stokes is survived by a brother and a sister