In Memoriam

This column salutes the lives and careers of recently departed colleagues. It is the way NJMEA and NJRMEA can express appreciation for the work that they have done and the lives that they have touched. We mourn their passing and salute their contributions, which are the basis for music education in the state of New Jersey.

Lucille Benedetto (Cantraella)

Lucille Benedetto (Cantarella), professional musician and teacher, 88, of Chatham Township, N.J., passed away on March 1, 2017. In addition to being a professional musician, Benedetto was a music teacher at Connecticut Farms Elementary School in Union.

Evelyn M. Comey Bleeke

Evelyn M. Comey Bleeke “Brought excellence and seemed always to create magic” in her long career in New Jersey music - from classical choral masterworks, opera and liturgical programs to school musicals, she‘touched the lives of thousands’ Evelyn M. Comey Bleeke, 93, a resident of Westfield, N.J., and of Kennebunk, Maine, passed away on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Edison, N.J. Evelyn was born in Reading, Mass., on Sept. 9, 1923. As a young girl, she displayed immense natural musical talent and enthusiasm. By age 10 she was playing piano and pump organ for church services and developing as a singer. After she graduated from high school, she worked at a restaurant and continued her playing and began singing in a close harmony gal group, The Melody Gems, with whom she sang weekly live radio broadcasts from the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. She attended Boston University, graduating with honors, including the “Scarlet Key.” Boston University’s Scarlet Key Honor Society was founded in 1938, as an activities honor society, in which new members were voted in, or tapped, annually by existing members. Evelyn spent an extra year at B.U. in a special conducting program under the tutelage of Sam Peck. To help in the war effort, Evelyn offered her conducting abilities at USO dances, where she met her future husband, Donald E. Bleeke, to whom she would be married for nearly 60 years. The couple moved to Arlington, Mass., where she worked at the Congregational Church. From there, they moved their family to Dover, Del., where she directed the “Playtex Manufacturing Plant Community Chorus” and accepted the position of choral director and organist at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Dover. In 1956, she moved with her family to Westfield. After studying organ with Wilma Jensen at Westfield’s Methodist Church, she began working at the Congregational Church in Westfield as the choral director and the organist. She was helpful in the purchase of their new pipe organ. During those early years in Westfield, she sang recitals and concerts, and took on operatic roles such as the mother in “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” under the direction of Alfredo Silipini. Maestro Silipini later hired her as chorus master of the New Jersey State Opera. She was also selected for the position of conductor of the Suburban Symphony Chorus of New Jersey in 1963. This group was originally founded by Peter Scozio in 1962. The name was changed when Evelyn became director to The Choral Art Society of New Jersey. Evelyn became the heart and soul of this organization and due to her high standards of excellence and her choices for a variety of great choral masterpieces, she led the group in the great choral works of Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Puccini, Verdi, Vaughan Williams and more to include over 109 master works. Evelyn also became the conductor of the Westfield Glee Club and was very active in the Music Club of Westfield. She accepted her next calling as organist and director of music at The First Baptist Church in Westfield. Evelyn assisted in the transformation of the sanctuary, the addition to the building, and the rebuilding of the organ. Her pioneering spirit compelled her pursuit of growth and self improvement as she attended choral and vocal workshops around the country and studied voice privately. She also took on the post of national treasurer of the American Baptist Convention, attended The American Guild of Organists’ concerts, workshops, and meetings, played organ at Temple Emanuel in Elizabeth, N.J., and earned her master’s in conducting and the equivalent of her doctorate at Trenton State College (College of New Jersey). When her youngest children were developing, she took on yet another role as a devoted teacher of music in the public school system, teaching full time for many years at Deerfield School in Mountainside, N.J.; David Brearley High School in Kenilworth, N.J, where she directed, planned and produced 14 musicals, and then on to Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, N.J., where she was again the choral and voice teacher. Evelyn received many awards, including the Governor’s Award and the “Master Teacher of the Year” from the New Jersey Music Educators Association. Evelyn retired from public school teaching in 1983, and took an assignment teaching voice and conducting at Kean University’s Music

Conservatory. Wherever she went, Evelyn brought excellence and seemed to always create magic with the musicians she led. She accepted an invitation to be music director at First Presbyterian Church of Cranford and served for many years in what would be her final calling as a full-time church musician. When she retired, she continued to teach voice privately and was active in the musical life in and around Westfield and Kennebunk, Me. She had a special way with people, and could generate love, passion, and excitement for the music with her leadership and conducting. Evelyn Bleeke touched the lives of thousands of people through the years. She was loved by many. Her excitement, passion, and love of music will live on in the hearts and voices of family and countless friends.

Dominick J. Ferrara III

Dominick J. Ferrara III, director of music education at Secaucus public schools and founding director of Garden State Concert Band, devoted time to countless organizations in the Bloomfield community Dominick J. Ferrara III “The Chief,” of Bloomfield, N.J., entered into eternal life on Feb. 13, 2017. He was 78. Dominick was the son of the late Dominick J. Ferrara Jr., a World War II veteran, and Grace Tedesco. He was born in Newark, NJ., and was a graduate of Barringer High School. He graduated from both Montclair State University with Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and New York University with a Master of Arts Degree, also in Music Education. He furthered his studies in Educational Administration at Seton Hall University. Dominick began his career in music education as the founder of the public school music program in the Secaucus Public Schools, where he served as the director of music education and taught music for 35 years. Dominick served in the 50th Armored Division Band of the New Jersey Army National Guard for 22 years and was bandmaster for much of that time. He retired from the National Guard in 1978 as a chief warrant officer III. Dominick moved to Bloomfield in 1975, where he had been an active member of the community through countless organizations. He was named the Citizen of the Year by the Township of Bloomfield in 2000; was the conductor of the Bloomfield Civic Band for over 43 years; was the founding director of the Garden State Concert Band in 1979; and served in the following capacities: past president of the Bloomfield Federation of Music and past president of Bloomfield UNICO. He was named 2008 Unican of the Year and served on the Christopher Columbus Day Parade Committee, Oakside Cultural Commission, Arts Council of Essex, and was an Eucharistic minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.

Eleanor Borski King

Eleanor (nee Borski) King, 84, of Paramus, formerly of Hasbrouck Heights, passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2017. Eleanor worked for the Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education as a Music Teacher until marrying her husband back in the 60s.

Claire F. Buckley McGurr

Claire F. (Buckley) McGurr, a longtime resident of Teaneck, New Jersey, passed away at Cedar Crest Nursing Home in Pompton Plains, New Jersey on March 9, 2017 following a period of declining health. She was 81 years old. Born to Mary (Gannon) and John Buckley, Claire was raised in Teaneck, NJ. She graduated from the University of Rochester with a major in music. She then worked in the Teaneck elementary school system as a music teacher. Through the years Claire remained active in Teaneck participating in Scouting and Little League as well as attending numerous sporting events for her 5 children.

Theodore Melyan

Theodore Melyan, 99, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania died Friday in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, a world famous composer and musician, and for more than 30 years, a music teacher in the Clifton public schools and an inspiration to generations of students and musicians.