Otto Alexander Altenburg died on October 18, 1997, at the age of 72. He was a Navy veteran, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President of Altenburg Piano House in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The Altenburg Company is the oldest family-owned piano house in the U.S., and has remained in family hands since its founder made the first Altenburg piano in 1847. During his tenure as president, Mr. Altenburg expanded the house's operations to 11 showrooms, including one at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He continued to improve his own pianos while offering several lines of European and domestic instruments. Altenburg was also interested in pipe organs. He sponsored concerts to celebrate the openings of new houses of worship, and furnished organs to churches throughout the U.S. and abroad. He was an elder and trustee of the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth. Mr. Altenburg is survived by his wife Nancy, two sons, two daughters, a sister, and two grandchildren.
John-Michael Caprio, Director of Music at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City, died on December 25, 1997. A native of Newark, New Jersey, Caprio was appointed to the cathedral in 1991. During his tenure he oversaw the restoration of the cathedral's historic Kilgen organs, and was conductor for several cathedral ensembles, including the Cathedral Choir, Chamber Singers, Schola, and Cathedral Singers. In 1976 he was appointed executive director of the Commission on Church Music of the Archdiocese of New York, and was also the founding director of the New York School of Liturgical Music. Mr. Caprio was also the founder and conductor emeritus of The Riverside Symphonia, a professional chamber orchestra based in central New Jersey. In October 1995 he coordinated and conducted the music for both the Papal Mass in New York City's Central Park and the rosary service celebrated by Pope John Paul II in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Prior to his appointment to St. Patrick's, Mr. Caprio served as director of music and organist at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Lambertville, NJ; the Church of the Resurrection, Rye, NY; St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, Newark; and Church of St. Philip the Apostle, Clifton, NJ. He was a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and Rutgers University. In September of 1997, Caprio was inducted into the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Sister Lucilda Meyer, FSPA, 94, died on April 30, 1997 at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Sister Lucilda was born on September 30, 1902 on a farm south of Dedham, Iowa. She began piano lessons at age eight, walking two miles to the school for lessons. She entered St. Rose Convent on August 26, 1920, and continued studying music with visiting professors from La Crosse Teachers' College. She earned a Master's degree in piano from McPhail School of Music in Minneapolis. A second graduate degree in organ, theory and composition was earned from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee. In 1940 she was awarded the AAGO certificate. Sister Lucilda served as a music instructor and organist for 57 years. From 1952-1979 she was a member of the music faculty at Viterbo College of La Crosse. She retired to the Villa St. Joseph in 1979 where even in retirement she served as organist and choir director at the Villa and at St. Joseph Ridge Parish. Sister Lucilda was a charter member of the La Crosse AGO chapter, and served as dean and secretary for many years.
Catherine Ritchey Miller died in Cary, North Carolina, on January 10 at age 93. A graduate of the University of Montana, she joined the AGO in 1930. She served as organ instructor and college organist at Peace College, Raleigh, North Carolina, for many years, retiring in 1973. Mrs. Miller served as organist at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, Raleigh, from 1948 to 1967, and at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, 1967-1971. In 1989 she was appointed organist emeritus at White Memorial, and in 1990 was made an honorary life member of the Central North Carolina AGO chapter. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Dr. William D. (Ted) Miller, a sister, and a brother.