Richard Tappa

1932 - 2011

Acclaimed organist and Austin College professor emeritus Richard J. Tappa, age 79, died at Texas Health Presbyterian-WNJ in Sherman on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. Dannel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where Dr. Tappa had served as organist for many years before retiring. Rev. John Williams will officiate.

Dr. Tappa was born in Kenosha, Wis., to Joseph and Bernice Weller Tappa on May 26, 1932. He attended the public schools of Kenosha before enrolling at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a bachelor of music degree. He then entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City, completing a masters degree in sacred music, specializing in organ and choral music. He served as Assistant Professor of Music for three years at Milligan College in Tennessee. His Ph.D. in music theory was awarded by Indiana University, one of the nation's finest schools of music.

On June 18, 1955, Richard Tappa and Lois Burgy were married at the First Methodist Church in Monroe, Wis. They had one daughter, Richelle (Shelly) Tappa.

After reading about the superb organ that had recently been installed in Wynne Chapel at Austin College, Dr. Tappa accepted a position at the school as college organist and professor of music in 1964. Soon thereafter he began working with the music program at First Presbyterian (now Covenant Presbyterian Church). At the college he presented literally thousands of hours of music before retiring in 1997, and his role as a church organist and choir director throughout his career amounted to yet more musical performance.

Dr. Tappa was instrumental in obtaining both a carillon and a harpsichord for Austin College. His most rewarding experience as a musician was a sabbatical spent in Paris, France, in 1977 where he was a student of the world-class organist Andre Marchal and was able to hear and play several organs performed on by the legendary performer Cesar Frank. He also had the privilege of studying the harpsichord with two of the most acclaimed teachers, Sandra Soderlund of Mills College and Karyl Louwenaar of Florida State University.

Dr. Tappa studied with many fine organ instructors, including Oswald Ragatz and Clyde Holloway at Indiana, Hugh Porter at Union Seminary, and Irene Eastman and Paul Jones in Wisconsin.

Dr. Tappa was also privileged to take part in two Bach Pilgrimages, one of which included a visit to East Germany in 1985 and celebrated the tricentennial anniversary of G.F. Handel and J.S. Bach.

Dr. Tappa's service to Austin College included teaching courses in numerous Elderhostel Programs and traveling to New Orleans for January Term courses in the history of American Jazz (offered three times). Recognizing Dr. Tappa's outstanding achievements and service to Austin College, the Board of Trustees honored him with the Homer P. Rainey Award.

His professional memberships included The Bach Society, American Guild of Organists, American Musicological Society, Society of Music Theory (state and national), and the Guild of Carrilloneurs of North America.

Dr. Tappa was predeceased by his parents; three sisters, Arline Kruse, June Rhey and Genevieve Larsen; two brothers, Clifford Tappa and Irving Tappa; four nephews and two nieces. Survivors include his wife, Lois, of Sherman; a daughter, Richelle (Shelly) McCauley and husband Michael of Richland Hills; two grandchildren, Christopher McCauley and Stephanie McCauley; four nephews and five nieces; as well as numerous great-nephews and great-nieces. He will also be mourned by a host of former students, friends and parishioners of the several churches he has served as organist.

Dannel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the music department at Austin College. Austin College has a webpage at www.austincollege.edu where former students and friends may post remembrances and condolences for the Tappa family. You may sign the only guestbook at www.dannelfuneralhome.com.