Eleanor Fowler McCrickard

1940 - 2023

McCrickard, Eleanor Fowler

October 14, 1940 - January 18, 2023

Eleanor passed away at WhiteStone Care and Wellness Center after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. She received loving care from the staff of the Care and Wellness Center and from Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro.

Eleanor was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to J. Fort Fowler and Elizabeth Thomas Fowler. Her father was a Methodist minister, and she grew up in many towns in Middle Tennessee. Eleanor followed in her mother's footsteps to Birmingham-Southern College, where she earned a B.A. (music) and B.M. (organ), graduating as valedictorian and being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Eleanor subsequently earned an M.M. (organ) at the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. (musicology) at the University of North Carolina. It was at North Carolina that she met her future husband, Donald, in a German language class. They married in June 1968.

Eleanor was a faculty member of the UNCG School of Music for thirty years. She specialized in music history, with a focus on the music of Italy in the seventeenth century. Eleanor was one of the world's foremost experts on the music of Alessandro Stradella, helping to elevate him from relative obscurity to his current status as a major composer of his century. She edited the complete instrumental works of Stradella in the series Concentus Musicus and, with a colleague in Italy, published the thematic catalogue of Stradella's works. For many years, she was a member of the editorial board for the critical edition of Stradella's music, for which she edited several volumes. In addition, Eleanor presented papers at professional conferences in the United States and abroad and published articles in numerous music journals.

She also served UNCG and the community in other ways. Eleanor was a skilled and dedicated teacher, who made lasting relationships with her students and received the outstanding teaching award in the School of Music in 2001. She was the executive secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at UNCG for thirteen years, the chair of the Composition, History, and Theory Division in the School of Music, and an executive officer in UNCG's faculty governance. Furthermore, she served on many committees at UNCG and in the community, taught at Elderhostel for the Eastern Music Festival at Guilford College, and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.

One of her passions was the organ, and she held a number of positions as organist at churches in North Carolina and Alabama. She continued to perform as a substitute organist, even while she was a full-time faculty member, and was well known for her moving renditions of Marcel Dupré's Le Chemin de la Croix at the Christ United Methodist Tenebrae service.

After retirement, Eleanor enjoyed reading the novels of Jane Austen and historical works by David McCullough, Ron Chernow, and others. She also enjoyed traveling and making the most delectable strawberry jam.

Eleanor is survived by her husband, Don, and by her sons, Scott (Lisa) of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Keith (Michele) of Fairfax, Virginia. She was blessed with six grandchildren: Gordon, Grace, Grady, Aisling, Gwendolyn, and Declan. She is also survived by her brothers William, Charles, and Arthur and their wives and children.

The service to celebrate her life will be held at Christ United Methodist Church on Friday, January 27, at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall of the Church.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, or to the charity of your choice.

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the family. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com for the McCrickard family.