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BORN
1941
DIED
2023
Michael Heintz Obituary
MICHAEL ROBERT HEINTZ
Michael Robert Heintz, 81, of Alexandria, VA passed away peacefully on April 21, 2023, in Alexandria after a long illness.
Michael was born in Dayton, OH to Robert and Freda (Wildermuth) Heintz on September 2, 1941. He attended school in Dayton where he was active in the Dayton Boys Choir and the Dayton Music Club. He graduated from Oberlin Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music. During his junior year at Oberlin, he studied at Mozarteum Akademie in Salzburg, Austria. He then pursued graduate studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City earning a Master of Sacred Music, Magna cum Laude.
Michael was a dedicated and skilled church musician for nearly all his life – photographs show him at the organ console of Epworth Methodist Church preparing for a recital while still a high school student. For thirty-six years he was the Music Director at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, and he maintained active memberships in the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and in the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM). At the time of his death, he was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, Alexandria, where he was a loyal supporter of the music program including the donation of a carillon.
Michael was preceded in death by John Charles Garverick, his life partner of more than fifty years.
Memorial gifts in Michael's name may be made to the Music Department at Grace Episcopal Church, Alexandria, VA.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church (3601 Russell Road Alexandria, VA 22305) on Monday, May 8, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. Michael's final resting place will be at Glen Cemetery in Sidney, OH.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Michael Heintz
2 Entries
Bob Wendt
August 31, 2023
He was the organist at church when I was in high school, and we had the same piano teacher. She wanted me to join the Dayton Boys Music Club where he was president, but I was not sure. Finally I introduced myself, resigned to joining, and found him approachable. I remember his playing Bach on the piano at a meeting and thinking he gave the piece a pearly-sounding touch. We went to different high schools, but 60 years later I wrote him to find out what he did after leaving for college. We lost contact in 2022, when he was in too much pain to be on the telephone.
Caroline Gallagher
May 26, 2023
I was a next door neighbor growing up in Dayton. He was two years older. We both studied piano as children, but Michael was truly talented. I remember hearing him play often and beautifully, especially in the summer when all our doors would be open. Michael was clearly headed for a serious career in music. As I knew him, he was a dignified young man, friendly, and so committed to his music. My mother, who has passed, still had a post card he'd sent from Salzburg, during his college year there studying music. He sounded so happy. I'm saddened to hear of his passing, but I know he led a very fulfilling and meaningful life.
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