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In Memoriam
Joseph C. Crupi
1929 - 2009
Native
New Yorker and long time resident Joseph C. Crupi died May 20, 2009 at
age 80. He was born in Binghamton, NY, April 1929. He graduated from
State University of New York at Fredonia and Ithaca, with additional
studies at the University of Oregon, Elmira College, Elmira, NY, Oberlin
College of Music in Ohio, Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ, and
Eastman School of Music in NY. He taught music for 32 years in the
Horseheads Central School District, Horseheads NY.
Joe was the pianist at the Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in
Bradenton, FL, through April 2009. He was also the organist/choir
director at St. Matthews Episcopal Church and the First United Methodist
Church, both in Horseheads, NY. He and his wife and daughter spent
summers in Chautauqua, NY, having worked there since 1980. During that
time, Joe worked for three years for the Department of Religion as the
director of Choral Activities.
Professionally, Joe belonged to the ACDA, MENC, NYSSMA, NYS Choral
Directors Guild and NAJE. He was an arranger and composer, publishing
songs for his daughter's elementary choirs. He became one of the
country's most gifted and productive choral conductors. His choirs
performed at regional and national conventions of ACDA, as well as at
the Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY, and on several European
tours, one of which included a concert in Vienna, Austria, with the
Czech Philharmonic. He performed several times with Chuck Mangione as
well as being recorded on one of his albums. He brought to the stage
classical, contemporary, pop, folk, and jazz literature, allowing his
students to appreciate all genres of music. His students idolized him,
for he taught them the joy of music along with the philosophy, "No
matter what you do in life, do it to the best of your ability at that
moment."
Joe is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia, son Mark (Deborah)
and daughter JoAnn (Elissa Gielen); grandchildren Melani Muratore (
Chris), Susanne McDaniel (Kevin), Alex and three greatgrandchildren. He
and his wife retired to Bradenton, Fl, in 1992.
Obituary written by JoAnn Crupi.
Last revised
June 26, 2010