Obituary for David M. Richey
David M. Richey passed away at the age of 83.
Born on February 2, 1938, a graduate of Irondequoit High School, David attended the University of Rochester and graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelor of Music Education and Performer’s Certificate. He played bass trombone in the Indianapolis Symphony for seven seasons (1960-1967) and in 1961 became a founding member of the Indianapolis Symphony Brass quintet as a tenor trombonist, playing in that group for six years. In 1963 he married Elizabeth Lichty [1994], a violist in the orchestra, and had two children, Deborah and Gordon. While in Indianapolis, he was Adjunct Instructor of Trombone at Indiana Central College and the Jordan Conservatory of Butler University. In 1963 he completed a Master of Music Degree in Music History at Jordan.
In 1967 they moved to Morgantown, West Virginia, where he held the position of Professor of low brass at West Virginia University. In the spring of 1968, he won the position of bass trombonist in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra [RPO]. He retired from the RPO in 2006. He was also a founding member of the Rochester Philharmonic Brass Quintet (1969) and played bass trombone with them for thirty years.
David taught music in both the Penfield and West Irondequoit School districts and continued to teach many of those students after he left the school. He was very proud of his students and their accomplishments – some of whom became professional musicians themselves. His summer positions included the Monteux Conducting School Orchestra, the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.
In 1995 he married Margaret Vandergraaf [2017] an English as a second language professor at Roberts Wesleyan College and welcomed two more children into the family: Trey Lockhart and Meegan Lockhart.
Since retiring from the RPO in 2006, David remained active musically as an Adjunct Instructor of Trombone and Euphonium at Roberts Wesleyan College, a member of the Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra and a frequent substitute on euphonium and trombone in several others. He also sang in the choir, lead a brass ensemble and a trombone choir at Irondequoit United Church of Christ.
Because he enjoyed his experience as a Boy Scout in his youth, he became active as an adult volunteer and has remained active with the local council including as a member of the historical society and the Eagle Board of Review.
In addition to music and the boy scouts, David was also a philatelist and an avid New York Yankees fan.
He is predeceased by his parents J. Miller and Lauretta (Wieland) Richey, his first wife Elizabeth (Lichty), his second wife Margaret (Vandergraaf), and his grandson Evan Lockhart. He is survived by his sons, Gordon M. Richey of Irondequoit, NY and Trey (Christine) Lockhart of Charleston, SC; daughters Deborah J. Richey of Troy, NY and Meegan (Nathan) Gagnon of Reading, PA; grandchildren, Dillon Richey, Alexis Richey, Madeline Lockhart, Emerson Gagnon, Margaux Gagnon and Genevieve Gagnon.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 10th at 10am at the Irondequoit Church of Christ, 644 Titus Avenue, Rochester, NY 14617. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the IUCC Memorial Fund.
Born on February 2, 1938, a graduate of Irondequoit High School, David attended the University of Rochester and graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelor of Music Education and Performer’s Certificate. He played bass trombone in the Indianapolis Symphony for seven seasons (1960-1967) and in 1961 became a founding member of the Indianapolis Symphony Brass quintet as a tenor trombonist, playing in that group for six years. In 1963 he married Elizabeth Lichty [1994], a violist in the orchestra, and had two children, Deborah and Gordon. While in Indianapolis, he was Adjunct Instructor of Trombone at Indiana Central College and the Jordan Conservatory of Butler University. In 1963 he completed a Master of Music Degree in Music History at Jordan.
In 1967 they moved to Morgantown, West Virginia, where he held the position of Professor of low brass at West Virginia University. In the spring of 1968, he won the position of bass trombonist in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra [RPO]. He retired from the RPO in 2006. He was also a founding member of the Rochester Philharmonic Brass Quintet (1969) and played bass trombone with them for thirty years.
David taught music in both the Penfield and West Irondequoit School districts and continued to teach many of those students after he left the school. He was very proud of his students and their accomplishments – some of whom became professional musicians themselves. His summer positions included the Monteux Conducting School Orchestra, the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.
In 1995 he married Margaret Vandergraaf [2017] an English as a second language professor at Roberts Wesleyan College and welcomed two more children into the family: Trey Lockhart and Meegan Lockhart.
Since retiring from the RPO in 2006, David remained active musically as an Adjunct Instructor of Trombone and Euphonium at Roberts Wesleyan College, a member of the Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra and a frequent substitute on euphonium and trombone in several others. He also sang in the choir, lead a brass ensemble and a trombone choir at Irondequoit United Church of Christ.
Because he enjoyed his experience as a Boy Scout in his youth, he became active as an adult volunteer and has remained active with the local council including as a member of the historical society and the Eagle Board of Review.
In addition to music and the boy scouts, David was also a philatelist and an avid New York Yankees fan.
He is predeceased by his parents J. Miller and Lauretta (Wieland) Richey, his first wife Elizabeth (Lichty), his second wife Margaret (Vandergraaf), and his grandson Evan Lockhart. He is survived by his sons, Gordon M. Richey of Irondequoit, NY and Trey (Christine) Lockhart of Charleston, SC; daughters Deborah J. Richey of Troy, NY and Meegan (Nathan) Gagnon of Reading, PA; grandchildren, Dillon Richey, Alexis Richey, Madeline Lockhart, Emerson Gagnon, Margaux Gagnon and Genevieve Gagnon.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 10th at 10am at the Irondequoit Church of Christ, 644 Titus Avenue, Rochester, NY 14617. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the IUCC Memorial Fund.