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Joe Robinson's Account of John Mack Services

Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-07-31 14:13

From Delmar Williams via the IDRS list (with his permission*):

Dear List,

Joe Robinson asked me if I would post his observations about Mr.
Mack's funeral service which was held on Friday..

Delmar

BY JOSEPH ROBINSON

For those friends of John Mack who were unable to attend his funeral
in Cleveland Friday, I want to report that Plymouth Church of Shaker
Heights was nearly full for a service entitled simply "Celebrating the
Life of John W. Mack."

Four friends from The Cleveland Orchestra (Bob "Boom Boom" Vernon put
the group together) offered slow movements by Schumann and Mozart as
bookends for the service. I struggled a bit with "Jesu , Joy of Man's
Desiring," and "Piece V" by Franck, risking the possibility that Mr.
Mack might suddenly sit upright in his coffin and express disapproval!
Jeff Rathbun's performance of the first movement of the Poulenc
Sonata, on the other hand, was nothing short of sublime, insuring that
our great teacher can rest in peace after all.

Loving comments were offered by Mr. Mack's golfing partner and former
Personnel Manager of The Cleveland Orchestra, David Zauder, and by
Cleveland Institute of Music President David Cerone. The hymn was
"Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You."

The most surprising element of this elegantly simple event was the
inclusion in it of writings by John Mack's father, the Rev. Silas
Franklin Mack . One of them, printed on the cover of the program, was
the following poem written in November 1941. I think it is a
remarkably beautiful defense of music:

"Music is the swelling tide
That lifts the barges of the soul
From marshes where salt grasses grow--
And sends them forth, an argosy
Of wondrous craft with cargoes rare--
The light of promise on their prows
And in their sails the winds of destiny."

Many people lingered in the sanctuary following the service, but Anne
D. and the children hurried off for a private service at an elevated
burial site overlooking Severance Hall.

******************************************************

*"Susan,

I'm sure that would be fine. Joe wanted it to be circulated, so I'm
sure it would be ok.

Delmar"

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