David C. Melrose
December 21, 1946 ~ July 25, 2020 (age 73) 73 Years Old
Obituary
Obituary
David C. Melrose
Noted voicer, designer, and builder of pipe organs, David Canning Melrose, of Springfield, Massachusetts, died on Saturday, July 25th, in the East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Facility due to an advanced case of Alzheimer’s Disease. Born on December 21st, 1946 in Orlando, Florida, he was 73 years old.
A lifelong Episcopalian, David was Educated by the St. Luke’s Episcopal Cathedral grammar school and then the public schools of Orlando, Florida. Following his graduation from high school, he attained a Bachelor of History degree from the University of South Florida.
Mr. Melrose was predeceased by his father, Mr. Arthur M. Melrose and his mother, Mrs. Betty Jane (Kilbourne) Melrose of Orlando, Florida. His survivors are his husband and life’s partner of 50 years, the Rev. Jerry E. True of Springfield, Massachusetts, a sister, Mrs. Catharine (Melrose) Jackson (Stephen) of Alpharetta, Georgia and a nephew, Stephen Jackson (Kyle Gorman) of Hartford, Connecticut.
Having worked as a trainee, then craftsman, and then shop manager of the Berkshire Organ Company in West Springfield, Massachusetts for a number of years, in 1976 Mr. Melrose founded Southfield Organ Builders, Inc. of Springfield, Massachusetts.
Aided over the years by a number of talented and skilled staff, Mr. Marc Winer of Agawam served as shop manager. The Southfield company built quite a number of extraordinarily successful organs and rebuilt many others. The company also supplied actual organ pipe divisions for “hybrid” digital electronic organs, and also built organ consoles for other organ builders, churches and other institutions.
New and rebuilt pipe organs for churches by Southfield exist both locally and in many areas of the country, mostly in the Eastern half but as far West as New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mr. Winer and Mr. Melrose were also members of the American Institute of Organ Builders, a consortium of organ builders throughout the country which sets professional standards.
Mr. Melrose served as President and CEO of the Southfield company until his retirement in 2012.
David was fond of animals, especially of his favorite, Siamese cats. Known for their vocal acuity, telephone callers would sometimes ask if there was a baby in the room. He and Jerry also usually had a family rescue cat in residence as well.
A celebration of David’s life and the interment of his cremains will be held at Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield at some future date yet to be announced owing to the pandemic. There will be no calling hours.
To those who wish to make memorials, it is suggested that, in lieu of flowers, the organ fund of Christ Church Cathedral would be a cause which would please David. Forastiere Smith Family Funeral Home, East Longmeadow is entrusted with arrangements. www.forastiere.com
David C. Melrose
Noted voicer, designer, and builder of pipe organs, David Canning Melrose, of Springfield, Massachusetts, died on Saturday, July 25th, in the East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Facility due to an advanced case of Alzheimer’s Disease. Born on December 21st, 1946 in Orlando, Florida, he was 73 years old.
A lifelong Episcopalian, David was Educated by the St. Luke’s Episcopal Cathedral grammar school and then the public schools of Orlando, Florida. Following his graduation from high school, he attained a Bachelor of History degree from the University of South Florida.
Mr. Melrose was predeceased by his father, Mr. Arthur M. Melrose and his mother, Mrs. Betty Jane (Kilbourne) Melrose of Orlando, Florida. His survivors are his husband and life’s partner of 50 years, the Rev. Jerry E. True of Springfield, Massachusetts, a sister, Mrs. Catharine (Melrose) Jackson (Stephen) of Alpharetta, Georgia and a nephew, Stephen Jackson (Kyle Gorman) of Hartford, Connecticut.
Having worked as a trainee, then craftsman, and then shop manager of the Berkshire Organ Company in West Springfield, Massachusetts for a number of years, in 1976 Mr. Melrose founded Southfield Organ Builders, Inc. of Springfield, Massachusetts.
Aided over the years by a number of talented and skilled staff, Mr. Marc Winer of Agawam served as shop manager. The Southfield company built quite a number of extraordinarily successful organs and rebuilt many others. The company also supplied actual organ pipe divisions for “hybrid” digital electronic organs, and also built organ consoles for other organ builders, churches and other institutions.
New and rebuilt pipe organs for churches by Southfield exist both locally and in many areas of the country, mostly in the Eastern half but as far West as New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mr. Winer and Mr. Melrose were also members of the American Institute of Organ Builders, a consortium of organ builders throughout the country which sets professional standards.
Mr. Melrose served as President and CEO of the Southfield company until his retirement in 2012.
David was fond of animals, especially of his favorite, Siamese cats. Known for their vocal acuity, telephone callers would sometimes ask if there was a baby in the room. He and Jerry also usually had a family rescue cat in residence as well.
A celebration of David’s life and the interment of his cremains will be held at Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield at some future date yet to be announced owing to the pandemic. There will be no calling hours.
To those who wish to make memorials, it is suggested that, in lieu of flowers, the organ fund of Christ Church Cathedral would be a cause which would please David. Forastiere Smith Family Funeral Home, East Longmeadow is entrusted with arrangements. www.forastiere.com
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Spriingfield Crematory
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