Robert M. Quade

Robert Milton Quade, 95, died of natural causes on July 11, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, after a very brief hospitalization. He was comfortable, content, and with family at his passing. Robert was born May 14, 1930, in Mountain View, California to Lester and Elna Quade. Robert married his wife, Doris Anne Quade, in 1955.

Mr. Quade committed his life to celebrating and sharing his faith through liturgical music. His career began at the Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California as a teenager. During his studies at the School of Sacred Music of Union Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Sacred Music, he was organist and choirmaster at the Hillside Presbyterian Church in Orange, New Jersey. From 1960 to 1967 he served at Christ Church in Lexington, Kentucky, where he founded the men and boys’ choir, one of his proudest endeavors. Robert and Anne and their children moved to Ohio in 1967 when Robert came to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron.

During his 33 years at St. Paul’s Akron, he took the choir of men and boys on twelve overseas tours that included England, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, and France. The girls’ choir made four tours to the UK, one combined with the men and boys singing at Canterbury Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey. In 1975 he instituted the first RSCM Ohio Course for boys and adults held at the Diocese of Ohio’s conference center.

Following his retirement from St. Paul’s, Robert served as a substitute organist at various churches throughout Akron and then resumed a more regular schedule directing the music at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in North Hill until 2021, followed by St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Barberton, where he played from 2021 until his last service just five days before passing.

Robert earned considerable recognition both nationally and internationally for his work. Among those were winning the first American Guild of Organists’ National Convention Competition in Improvisation in 1964, being named an Honorary Member of the Royal School of Church Music in 1970, an Associate Member in 1974, and a Fellowship Member of RCSM at Southwark Cathedral in 1990. He was appointed President of RSCM America from 1991-2002 and President Emeritus in 2002. He was granted an honorary doctorate from the University of the South, Sewanee in 1999.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Anne; and is survived by his son, Kent; son, Thomas and daughter-in-law Shannon; son, Scott and daughter-in-law Emily; daughter, Kristen; and four grandchildren, Robert, Joe, Anna, and Ella.

A Eucharistic Memorial Service will be celebrated by The Rev. Dr. Michael Petrochuk 11 A.M. SATURDAY August 16th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1361 W. Market St. Akron, OH 44313. Former choristers are invited to sing with the choir. Those wishing to do so are asked to reach out soon to St. Paul’s Choirmaster Mr. Daniel Fortune at 330-836-9327 (ext 129) or dfortune@stpaulsakron.org

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Robert M. Quade Endowment Fund at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1361 W. Market St, Akron, OH, 44313 or to the Northeast Ohio Shetland Sheepdog Rescue, 41753 Blanche Ave, Elyria, OH 44035 (checks payable to NEOSSR or at www.neossr.org). Over his last decades, Robert so enjoyed the companionship of several rescue shelties, which this organization made possible.

Arrangements in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333 (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 330-867-4141)