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HARRY WILKINSON Obituary
HARRY, age 92, Jan. 15, 2015. DR. WILKINSON, was Professor Emeritus, West Chester University Music Theory and Composition Dept. and well respected organ professor. He is survived by many friends, colleagues, and students, especially Bruce Shultz. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, 10 A.M., Old St. Mary's Church, 248 S. 4th St., Phila., PA 19106. Friends are invited to his Visitation after 9 A.M. in the church. Int. Private. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to the St. Francis de Sales Organ Restoration Fund, 4625 Springfield Ave., Phila. PA 19143.
(O'LEARY F.H., Springfield, PA)
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Memories and Condolences
for HARRY WILKINSON
Sponsored by O'Leary Funeral Home Ltd..
Patty Pezick
January 14, 2023
Rest in peace Dr.Wilkinson. I miss your quick wit and dry humor. You are missed.
Stephen Furst
September 26, 2017
Dr. Wilkinson:
You were and still are the greatest musician I ever met. Thank you for taking the time to teach me privately; your influence still permeates my musical creativity and will until I leave this earth.
Thank you for taking the time to advise me on my career and making that telephone call to the Eastman School of Music to accept me unconditionally as a graduate assistant in their Doctoral program. I should have followed your advice but appreciate your support in what I ultimately decided to do with my musical career.
Rest in peace my good friend. You will live on forever in all our memories . . .
Larry Kerecman
January 27, 2015
I first met Harry after he played a concert on the Wanamaker organ - without any sheet music. I was totally immersed in the music as he played. We had a nice chat and I learned of his CDs of the Girard College organ. When I got back to Denver I ordered them and still listen to them regularly.
I ended up working at the store on the Light Show for many years and would always look forward to the days when Harry played; we would chat afterward. On one occasion he told me that his beloved golden retriever, pictured on the cover photo of his Girard CDs, was gone. We shared memories of our departed pets that day.
The last time I saw Harry at the store he told me that he would be retiring because his memory was not as good as it used to be and he didn't want to use music! I will miss listening to his magic at the keyboards.
Stephen Cable
January 24, 2015
Bruce and Trisha,
Thank you for the lovely reception you had after the funeral. I felt honored to be asked to take the gifts up Trisha, as well as Bill O'Leary asked me to be a pall bearer. Then got to reception early and Joe said food wasn't delivered so took him to pick up. Your pasta salad was good potassium safe!!!
Please take care and God bless you.
Stephen Cable
Mary Hildenbrand
January 23, 2015
The most brilliant, yet feared, music professor we (my husband and I) ever had at West Chester in the 1960's! Many years later "Dr. Harry," as our choir and church members called him, served for a time as the beloved organist for the Jenkintown United Methodist Church. It was a strange feeling, but a great honor, to work with him! Dr. Harry's incredible improvisations, his sense of humor, and especially his sweet soul, will never be forgotten! I hope he and my dear, departed husband find one another! They will surely enjoy one another's company!
Sally Denk Hoey
January 23, 2015
As many of you are leaving "Wilkie Stories", here's mine:
Truthfully, Dr. Wilkinson scared the living daylights out of me.
My brain operated in a perpetual fog, while his soared with the angels.
The following day is etched into my very being: Dr. Wilkinson stood behind the upright piano in class, played various notes, and going down each row, pointed to each of us in the class
and asked us to name the pitch!
Given 4 seconds, and being a mere mortal, I would think of my lowest singable note, hear the interval, and give it a pretty solid guess. However by then, I was a good 3.5 seconds off his mark.
He ended up calling our class vegetables and telling us we could make more money as plumbers!
I walked back to my dorm crying but survived the day, and went on to get my M. Mus., Cum Laude.
And 40 some years later I still cantor a pretty decent Mass!
God bless the man for making us stronger and better musicians.
Dawn Hamrick
January 23, 2015
It is truly a loss and the passing of an era of brilliance, as we mourn our dear friend, Dr. Wilkinson. Harry was a kind and gentle soul, whose musical genius left a stamp on so many. As we weep to console ourselves over his passing, let us remember that life is short-lived for all of us, I wish that I could make as extraordinary an impact on so many as Harry did. My sincere condolences to Bruce & Trisha... remember love never dies..hopefully, you can use your memories and that love to help you get through this sad time.
January 23, 2015
I began teaching Harry computer skills about 10 years ago at the Mabel Kay House in Haddonfield, New Jersey. He was unique – he always came to class in a suit and tie even on the warmer days. Harry was a very diligent student and very dexterous on the keyboard and mouse. One day I asked Harry what was his profession. He told me that he was a retired music professor at West Chester University and that in his retirement he enjoyed playing the noon organ recital one day a week at Macy's in Philadelphia. Wow! Then I realized why he was so skilled on the keyboard! My colleague Donna and I were always so impressed with Harry – he will be missed but not forgotten!
Maureen Heacock
Haddonfield, New Jersey
Patricia Pezick
January 22, 2015
Dr. Wilkinson,
I will miss your good humor and wit. Theory IV and four years as an organ major at WCU taught me a great deal. I remember how you locked the classroom door if we arrived after 8:00 am for theory class. I don't think I appreciated your ways until I was much older. Now, I find myself using your stories and quotes in my own classroom. Thank you for making me a better musician.
I will miss you!
Pat Pezick
Jenifer Stanley
January 22, 2015
I am truly saddened to hear of Dr. Wilkinson's passing. "The Great Master"...yes, he made us address him as such in counterpoint...will be greatly missed and remembered forever. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
Susan Wagner Hartney
January 22, 2015
Rest in peace, Dr. Wilkinson. I will never forget the Christmas concerts and Theory IV at WCSC.
January 22, 2015
My sincerest condolences go out to the family of Dr. Wilkinson. How proud you all must be of his accomplishments and his legacy, left for
other organists and teachers alike. A litany of excellence…..
Robert Harry Wilkinson, WCU, BS Music, 2001/Organist-Director of Music-Drexel Hill UMC
Chapel Carmelite Monastery
Discalced Crmelites
January 21, 2015
Dr. Wilkinson donated his services and played the Hook Hastings pipe organ at our monastery on innumerable occasions for public liturgies before he became a Catholic. He was faithful in coming in the stifling heat of the summer and bitter cold weather in winter. His music rang out through the beautiful chapel and lifted the congregation to fervent prayer and song. He did this year after year. He voiced his appreciation for our Carmelite cloistered life. God's grace moved in his life and he eventually entered the Catholic Church. Even after it became impossible for him to climb to the choir loft and overcome the oppressive temperatures he remained a devoted friend of our community. We thank God that He brought him to Carmel and Carmel to him. May he rest in eternal peace
Marie Page
January 21, 2015
Sorry to hear of this loss. I remember hearing him play a concert at The First Presbyterian Church of Germantown when he was in his 80's! He seemed quite humble and kind upon meeting him. My sympathy to all he left behind.
January 21, 2015
Dr. Wilkinson's organ playing at the Christmas concerts ( in our day there were 3) are some of my favorite memories of WCSC. You never knew what he was going to do and by the third concert it was all that kept you alert! Karen Gingrich Dosch '75
January 21, 2015
I learned all I needed for 4 semesters of aurals my first semester from Dr. Wilkinson. And I deliberately signed up for Theory IV with him!
Don Dosch WCSC '75
David Hearn
January 21, 2015
He was a great teacher and mentor to me for many years.
January 21, 2015
Great organist and teacher. It was a privilege to study music theory, and four semesters of counterpoint with him. Fond memories of him playing the carol service at West Chester. End of an era! He was blessed to have Bruce & Trish in his life!!!
January 21, 2015
Dr. Wilkinson was a teacher I have always remembered. May he rest in peace.
Scottie Pennett BS Music 1976
"Randy" Houston Robinson BS MusicEd '89
January 21, 2015
One of the scariest and most loved teachers of my WCU memories! I loved/hated having him for classes! He will be missed! He was an excellent educator!
Michael Yasenchock
January 21, 2015
May God grant his servant, the organist Harry, blessed repose and eternal memory.
Francis D'Amico
January 21, 2015
He was a great teacher and I enjoyed his theory classes. His improvisations were awesome...loved his deceptive chord changes. I had some difficulty with his aural harmony dictations..they were rough. Goin' to try to get to his funeral.
Julia Gilbert Farber WCSC '77
January 21, 2015
Dr.Wilkinson. fall of freshman year. Theory. 8 AM. I am mentally ticking off the theory rules as I write this. Schirmer 12 staves to a page. All full of g clefs until they were acceptable. God Bless him for his genius, his wit, and his uncompromising expectations. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn from him and to hear his artistry at the console.
Ann Savinski WCU BS Music '87
January 20, 2015
I was not fortunate enough to have him for class; I don't recall him teaching Aurals or Theory when I was there. But, I stood in awe of him when he played for the Christmas program each year. It sometimes seemed that he touched on every key while playing those carols. I remember going to hear him at the local church when he gave a concert in honor of J.S. Bach. WOW! Harry! You were simply awesome! And you played to a packed house! I hope you and E.Power Biggs get to jam in heaven!
Corey Axler
January 20, 2015
there were very few teachers that made an impact on my life like Harry Wilkinson. How many professors did you know that had a scholarship named after him while he was still alive and teaching?! (I was the happy recipient of said theory scholarship as a freshman in 1989!) His ability to "contemplate his navel" while being tortured by us frightened, clueless freshman in theory and aurals will never be forgotten. I sometimes channel his persona when teaching AP music theory these days. RIP Harry Wilkinson - you will never be forgotten!
Bernadette Houle
January 20, 2015
Dear Bruce,Trisha,Emily and Nicholas:
Our deepest love and sympathy, Harry was a wonderful caring and loving person. He will never be forgotten and his kindness and wonderful music will live on forever.
All our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.
Warmest Regards,
Bernadette and Paul Houle
Jody Kerchner
January 20, 2015
I savor the still-present sound of his "inspired" organ playing, especially in the key of G-flat...the key that I sang "O Holy Night" in. I remember writing out the entire song (by hand on manuscript paper...the only available choice in that era!). When I handed him the manuscript, he laughed and with dry wit asked if I did not trust "his version" of the accompaniment I would sing with. Thinking back on it, "What was I thinking???" I was trying to be helpful, but hey, Dr. Wilkinson could transpose anything into any key!!! A genius. RIP Harry WIlkinson.
Valerie Crescenz
January 20, 2015
So sorry to hear of his passing. What an incredible organist! I was his student in music theory and counterpoint - he was a wonderful teacher.
January 20, 2015
Ed Milisits WCU class of 1975. RIP Dr. Wilkinson...fine teacher, organist and a better man, I will remember both undergrad and grad classes with you.
Timothy Raub
January 20, 2015
Your improvisation on Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony will never be forgotten. You were incredible. Rest peacefully.
Lou Spagnola
January 20, 2015
Dr. Wilkinson was one of the TRULY greats. The musician's musician.
Lou Spagnola
January 20, 2015
Dr. Wilkinson was one of the TRULY greats. The musician's musician.
Robert Carl, Jr.
January 20, 2015
Very sorry to hear of his passing. He was a very close friend and colleague of my father's at WC and I actually called him "Uncle Harry" as a child. Anyone privileged to have Dr. Wilkinson as a professor will surely never forget him.
January 20, 2015
Offering my sincere condolences.
Find peace and comfort from reading the book of Psalms
Sincerely,
Ms. J
Sally Denk Hoey
January 20, 2015
Dr. Wilkinson was a musical genius and a legend in his own time.
I dare say there are any of us who studied with him at the School of Music at WCSU who do not have a at least one "Wilkie Story" that is told and re-told.
Truly, half the fun of the Christmas Concert at Phillips Memorial was hearing him create the soaring variations on the beloved carols.
God Bless him!
He now accompanies the choir of angels around God's throne playing "Holy Holy Holy, Lord God of Hosts!"
Sally Denk Hoey, WCSU, BS Mus.'71, M. Mus. '77
Tom Hoey,WCSU BS Mus '71
D. Stephen Cable
January 20, 2015
May God be with you, Bruce, at this difficult time.
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