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death
March 2009 
I went to the most marvelous funeral
Posted on Feb 6th, 2006
by 
Wil
Wil
It was held in a catholic church, the room was packed, must've seated 700 and it was a full house.
He was young, 53, but had a ton of friends. He had a doctorate in music, he mentored and trained many a musician and voice in his career. He directed and played piano for three choirs. He and his protegege's and contemporaries performed at Presidential Inaugarations, inaguaral balls, the Kennedy Center all over the DC area and the world. His choirs and his students and those that loved him filled the church on a Sunday afternoon, Super Bowl Sunday even...
Almost a three hour memorial service. About a half hour of people discussing what a wonderful unique man he was, how he touched their heart, we all nodded with our own memories.
And then over two hours of amazing singing. AWESOME SINGING, the breadth and expanse of the human voice was represented as if it divinely inspired...and it was. After a number of solos, each of his three choirs got up and sang a couple of favorites. After each piece we wanted to do nothing more than clap in appreciation of these vocal musicians expressions of love toward our friend who made his transition, but we were in a church and held back.
And then for the grand finale, an awesome tribute, all three choirs got up and sang to us his song, that he composed and wrote, words and lyrics, and the Congressional Choir has sung previously at three inaugarations...Anthem for a New Age, by Michael Patterson. It was incredible, the three choirs he had conducted and directed that never performed together before, most had never met before, sang musta been close to a hundred strong, his song. At the end we couldn't help ourselves...everyone jumped to their feet, applauded to till their hands hurt, he recieved a standing ovation for a life well lived, in a full house. This was an applause like you see on TV for the President's arrival at the state of the union speech, it had that kind of feel with the length and enthusiasm, except it was a pure expression of love for one who touched so many.
I truly feel blessed to have been in that room, to have that experience, three more wonderful hours add to my memories of a friend.
He was young, 53, but had a ton of friends. He had a doctorate in music, he mentored and trained many a musician and voice in his career. He directed and played piano for three choirs. He and his protegege's and contemporaries performed at Presidential Inaugarations, inaguaral balls, the Kennedy Center all over the DC area and the world. His choirs and his students and those that loved him filled the church on a Sunday afternoon, Super Bowl Sunday even...
Almost a three hour memorial service. About a half hour of people discussing what a wonderful unique man he was, how he touched their heart, we all nodded with our own memories.
And then over two hours of amazing singing. AWESOME SINGING, the breadth and expanse of the human voice was represented as if it divinely inspired...and it was. After a number of solos, each of his three choirs got up and sang a couple of favorites. After each piece we wanted to do nothing more than clap in appreciation of these vocal musicians expressions of love toward our friend who made his transition, but we were in a church and held back.
And then for the grand finale, an awesome tribute, all three choirs got up and sang to us his song, that he composed and wrote, words and lyrics, and the Congressional Choir has sung previously at three inaugarations...Anthem for a New Age, by Michael Patterson. It was incredible, the three choirs he had conducted and directed that never performed together before, most had never met before, sang musta been close to a hundred strong, his song. At the end we couldn't help ourselves...everyone jumped to their feet, applauded to till their hands hurt, he recieved a standing ovation for a life well lived, in a full house. This was an applause like you see on TV for the President's arrival at the state of the union speech, it had that kind of feel with the length and enthusiasm, except it was a pure expression of love for one who touched so many.
I truly feel blessed to have been in that room, to have that experience, three more wonderful hours add to my memories of a friend.
Access: Public
wow, man I feel as though I was there the way you articulated it.Thanks for sharing those sentiments wil.
Seems he died the same way as Andy Warhol, another major artist.Such a shame, but good for you for remembering what he gave you, his music.
I think this is what they mean when they speak of being Immortal…
indeed, you did articulate yours and the entire gathering’s feelings in this post! I felt it as well! He had to have been an extraordinary man to resonate this soundly!
Blessings!
Wil, thanks so much for sharing. Such a powerful energy came through in your writing. Literally, I’m moved to tears of awe and love as I read your words. May we all be able to bring that moment of pure love, awareness and expansiveness to our loved ones as they celebrate the lives we’ve lived.
Wow, he must have given so much to so many people for everybody to have wanted to give back that way. Must have been a special guy.
I was just thinking, if in the afterlife you witness your own funeral, how would it be like when you witness your own funeral as described by wil. And now if you compare that to a funeral where 2 people say to each other….did you knew him?answer: Uh no, I work here…..
Isn’t it a challenge for us all to create funerals for ourselves (in time!!!) like the on Wil witnessed.
Bless Us
Thanks Wil. Celebrating someone’s contributions to life instead of dwelling on the shortness of their life is very heartening. Inspiring.
using death as an advisor….. 3/11/06
using his life as an inspiration….
having wil as a friend…
one cannot go wrong.
Raven
WIL you are way cool as my children say,as I read your many thoughts,thank’s.