Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Growing up at St. Anne's Church in Jersey City, I learned to play the organ in that church. Ron's card was always prominently displayed, and I knew from early on how important he was. Although only 5 ranks, I still consider it to be a fine organ, and still play it regularly. When my father died unexpectedly a year and a half ago, the sound of the organ could be heard as we got out of the car for the mass. It was a great comfort and I called him that night to thank him. We were working on expanding this organ and moving it back up to the balcony. When I took my first position with a pipe organ, St. Mary's Jersey City, Ron was in charge of its care, and it was always in a superior state of repair.A few years ago the Robert Morton theatre organ in the Loews Jersey theatre was finished, and I was elected as Staff organist. He was really thrilled on both accounts, and I am so happy that through recordings I made, he was able to see and hear this organ. He wanted me to see the one that he was involved in in Erie. I will truly miss the phone conversations with Ron. He was always so generous with his time, and had so many church and theatre stories. These were particularly interesting, because I knew the places and people he was talking about.There are people that have made the world and the people they touch in it, a truly better place and better people. I consider Ron one of those people. Although I will sorely miss him, I know that he is already working on some big organ project for Virgil, E. Power, Dick, Ray, ect.. WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
