Claire vg Thomas

Daughter of Lynden, Washington, nationally renowned pianist, organist and choir director, round-the-world traveler and "Matron of the Arts," Claire vg (Vander Griend) Thomas died quietly, peacefully and comfortably in Lynden on Oct. 13, 2008, following hospitalization. Her four children celebrated her 91st birthday with her on Oct. 11. Claire was the eldest of three daughters of William and Ada Vander Griend of Lynden. Mr. Vander Griend was the president of the National Bank of Commerce, early predecessor of today's Bank of America branch in Lynden. Active in many church and high school activities, she attended the Bellingham Normal School, today's Western Washington University. She received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where she met and later married Robert Morgan Thomas, "a gifted and handsome baritone who needed an accompanist." Claire Vander Griend then spent several years touring the United States as a concert pianist and organ recitalist. Following their wedding in Lynden, Bob and Claire Thomas raised four children in New York State where Claire worked as an audition accompanist for Broadway's famous team of Rodgers and Hammerstein in New York City before serving as Minister of Music for 20 years at the Scarsdale Congregational Church where she was organist and director of six choirs. Returning to Lynden in 1972, Claire's passionate love of music, the arts and her hometown inspired her as a community leader, patron and benefactor. She was a founder of the Lynden Pioneer Museum and the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra. She also chaired Lynden's celebration of its own centennial as a city and its local commemoration of the nation's bicentennial. Claire's lasting support of the arts in Lynden was recognized in 2001 when the Lynden Performing Arts Guild voted to rename the Queen Juliana Theater (in which Claire played a significant role as founder and leader) in her honor. The Claire vg Thomas Theater is one of Whatcom County's preeminent musical theaters today. However, Claire's most lasting legacy will be in the hearts, hands, voices and lives of the hundreds of piano and organ students and choir members who were touched by her teaching, inspiration and spiritual leadership. Among dozens of large and small musical endeavors in which she shared her talent and passion throughout Northwest Washington over the years, Claire was the Director of Music at First Congregational Church in Bellingham for 20 years and led massed choirs in 61 performances of Handel's "Messiah" in Lynden. Her piano and organ students as well as many of her choristers are still sharing their musical gifts throughout the world today -- a "gift that keeps on giving," as Claire would say. From her childhood years locally to her national musical prominence, from her four times traveled around the world globe-trotting playing piano on the Holland America Line to her return to her roots to leave legacies of appreciation for music and the arts, Claire vg Thomas has received academic, professional, civic and other awards and recognitions throughout her life. Outside of music, Claire will be lovingly missed and remembered as a voracious reader, a tenacious and accomplished bridge player, a crossword puzzle wizard and Scrabble devotee, and as a passionate, loving, spirited and spiritual giver, teacher, mentor, leader, colleague, mother, grandmother ("Grandi"), aunt and dear, dear friend. Claire is survived by her four children: David (Heidi) of Castle Rock, Colo.; Annie Bertran of Oak Harbor; Bob (Janice) of Tacoma; Bill of Las Vegas, Nev.; nine loving grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be sent to the Lynden Performing Arts Guild and the Lynden Pioneer Museum, both of Lynden, WA 98264.