ROLAND E. DUPONT

Roland E. DuPont, 95: Big Band Musician. Roland E. DuPont, a resident of Chappaqua since 1947, passed away Tuesday, September 7, 2004 at Northern Westchester Hospital. He was 95. He was born August 14, 1909, in Brocton, MA to Anna Gaudette and Victor Ernest DuPont. He attended Thayer Academy where he met his wife Helen Sprinkle from Seattle who he married in 1932. The couple had two children, Don and Lorraine. Lorraine became an interior decorator and now resides with her husband John in Chicago. Don has been a music educator in Chappaqua for 35 years and resides in Armonk with his wife, Cynthia. As an aspiring professional trombonist, Mr. DuPont came to Manhattan and began playing at the Rainbow Room with Rubie Newman. Later he joined the Ray Noble Orchestra. The other trombone player was Glenn Miller. In the 1930's and 40's he met all the big names in swing, played Radio City Music Hall and the Paramount and hung out at Jim & Andy, a 47th Street tavern where all the big band sidemen hung out. Live radio was next, followed by live television. Mr. DuPont said he was never nervous, just excited, when he performed with the Ray Block band on the Kate Smith Show. He also performed on the Lucky Strike Hit Parade, the Milton Berle Show, the Ed Sullivan Show, Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar and finally as a staff musician for NBC and CBS. His ongoing strength, courage and love of life will always be an inspiration. Mr. DuPont, affectionately known as "Dot" is survived by daughter Lorraine DuPont Nielson and son Donald Eugene DuPont, five grandchildren, Lisa, Judy, Billy, Donny and Michele, and six great-grandchildren, Robert, Campbell, Hayley, Julia, Sara and Patrick. To celebrate his life, a public memorial service will be held at 11 am, Friday September 10, at the First Congregational Church, 210 Orchard Ridge Rd., Chappaqua, NY.