Obituary of Charles F. Pope

Charles F. Pope June 04, 1930 - April 17, 2006 Charles Frank Pope, 75, loving husband, father and grandfather, of Bethel, formerly of Ridgefield, CT, died on Monday, April 17, 2006, peacefully in his home with his family. Charles was born on June 4, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Alfred August Pope, Sr. and Anna Elizabeth Windecker. At the age of 3, under his father, he started his musical instruction at the piano and was a professional musician by the age of 15. His studies included choral and orchestral conducting, organ, piano, harmony, counterpoint, composition, and improvisation. He studied under and was mentored by many, including Robert Shaw, Elaine Brown, Fred Waring, Alice Parker and Willard Irving Nevins. Since his first organ recital at age 15, Charles and his choral groups delighted music lovers throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas, with performances at many locations, including Town Hall, Carnegie Hall and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He was a published composer and arranger for chorus and English hand-bells, as well as arranged and recorded commercials for both radio and television. He served as organist, choir director, Minister of Music and Youth Director for many churches and temples in both New York and Connecticut. Through music ministry, his talents were offered at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in New York City; Trinity Lutheran, Flatlands Dutch Reformed and St. Mark's Methodist churches in Brooklyn; at Old Dutch Church in Kingston, NY; and at Bethlehem Lutheran, First Church of Christ Congregational, First Congregational, St. Anthony Marionite and Immanuel Lutheran churches in Connecticut. At these churches, Charles organized, directed, and/or supervised up to 5 vocal, 2 hand-bell and brass choirs. He presented choral concerts, choir shows and special music services. He also influenced and oversaw the replacement of organs at 7 churches. In addition, he served several other churches for special musical events. He was organist and choir director for Jewish services at the Brooklyn V.A. hospital and also organist for the High Holy Holidays in New York and Ridgefield. In connection with these churches, he organized and directed an annual children's choir festival for 9 years that involved approximately 600 children. As a conductor, at age 17, Charles organized and conducted the Charles Pope Choristers. This full chorus and show group presented over 1600 concerts and shows over its 34-year existence. In addition, he conducted over 800 performances of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S. choruses in NY; the King's Glee Club of NY; the Women's Club chorus of Great Neck, NY; the Dunn & Bradstreet chorus, the Choral Group of Temple Beth Elohim in NY; and the America Fore Insurance Co. Men's and Women's chorus of NY. His conducting credits extended with television where for CBS he conducted several hour-long national Christmas specials, and, for NBC, the Kraft Music Hall and the Ernie Kovacks Show. For radio, he presented his CPC chorus for many WNYC radio broadcasts. He was also the festival conductor for the Associated Male Choruses of America, at times with a chorus of 2000 men. He conducted many special festival choruses for The National Federation of Christians and Jews, The Federation of Protestant Man, and The Protestant Council of the City of New York. To his credit are over 250 fully staged Gilbert and Sullivan productions including the Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, Iolanthe and the Pirates of Penzance; tributes to Rogers & Hammerstein; dozens of Broadway shows including The Sound of Music, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Annie Get Your Gun, Guys and Dolls, Bye, Bye Birdie, Brigadoon, 1776, and The Wizard of Oz. With fond memories, he produced and conducted a unique Christmas Show, which, for many, started the Christmas season off, for 34 years, with a live Nativity scene as the hallmark of the production. As a teacher, he taught music or conducted the choruses at the Notre Dame Academy of Ridgefield, CT; Our Lady of Sorrows R.C. School of Queens; and at Brooklyn College in NY. Privately, he taught piano, organ, improvisation, conducting, voice and theory for 60 years. As a pianist and organist, he appeared as a recitalist and accompanist in numerous concerts throughout the NY area. Among his many credits are accompanying Jussi Bjoerling and Hilde Gueden of the Metropolitan Opera and Fred Waring Choral Workshops. Charles also won acclaim from the NY critics when he appeared at Carnegie Hall as a soloist with his interpretations of Bach. He was a member and past board member of the American Guild of Organists in NY and CT, member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Associated Musicians of Greater New York, American Guild of Variety Artists and was past Vice President and President of the Conductors Club of New York. As a husband and a father, he was an adored and loved friend and mentor. His wishes were to see his family successfully into the future with much love, faith and happiness, to which he succeeded. His gifts of wisdom were many. Charles' favorite activities included taking cruises with his family, woodworking, home improvements, cooking, gardening, boating, dry humor, and listening to Bach and Wagnerian Operas at full volume. Charles is survived by his wife, Eleanor M. Pope of Bethel; son Christopher C. and wife Eileen M. Pope of Charlotte, North Carolina; and son Jonathan A. and wife Jennifer N. Pope of Sandy Hook, Connecticut, along with four adoring grandchildren, Christopher Charles, Jr., Michael Russell, Devon Joseph Charles, and Lauren Whitney. Funeral Information A memorial service will be held Friday, April 21 at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 18 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, CT. The family will be greeting friends prior to the service starting at 1:30. Donations Information In lieu of flowers, Charles wished for donations to be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church - DGD fund.