Charles Frank Pope

Distinguished

Musician Was Adored Mentor To Family

And Friends

Charles Frank Pope, 75, of Bethel, formerly of Ridgefield, died April 17 in his home with his family. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Mr Pope was born June 4, 1930, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Alfred August Pope and Anna Elizabeth Windecker.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor M. Pope, of Bethel; sons Jonathan A. and his wife, Jennifer, of Sandy Hook and Christopher C. and his wife, Eileen, of Charlotte, N.C.; and four adoring grandchildren, Christopher Charles, Jr, Michael Russell, Devon Joseph Charles, and Lauren Whitney.

At the age of 3, under his father, Mr Pope 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.

He was a published composer and arranger for chorus and English hand bells, and 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.

In connection with these churches he organized and directed an annual children’s choir festival for nine years that involved approximately 600 children. He was also the festival conductor for the Associated Male Choruses of America, at times with a chorus of 2,000 men.

To his credit are more than 250 fully staged Gilbert and Sullivan productions, including The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, Iolanthe, and The Pirates of Penzance.

As a teacher, he taught music or conducted the choruses at the Notre Dame Academy of Ridgefield; Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic School of Queens; and at Brooklyn College in New York.

He was a member and past board member of the American Guild of Organists in New York and Connecticut, a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, and 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, Mr Pope was an adored and loved friend and mentor. His gifts of wisdom were many. His 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.

A memorial service will be held Friday, April 21, at 2 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 18 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury. The family will be greeting friends prior to the service, starting at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Mr Pope wished for donations to be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church’s DGD fund.

The Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, is in charge of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee        April 21, 2006