Suzanne John

1933 - 2021

Suzanne Heckman John of Lexington died suddenly on January 21, 2021 at 87. She was born on July 2, 1933 in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of Edward Franklin and Esther Emery Heckman. Her husband, her family, and music were her life. As a child, she was considered to be something of a musical prodigy and played cello when still in elementary school in the Philadelphia Women's Orchestra with her mother on violin. While she excelled in cello, the flute was her first love. She started playing at nine, and studied with world-renowned flutists, William Kincaid (Philadelphia Orchestra), James Pappoutsakis (Boston Symphony Orchestra), Frederick Whittaker (BBC/University of London), and, as a Tanglewood Fellow in 1955, Doriot Anthony-Dwyer (Boston Symphony Orchestra). A musical career highlight was receiving a compliment from Leonard Bernstein when she played the flute solos from Stravinsky's "Petrouchka" at Tanglewood under his baton. She graduated from Wellesley College as a music major in 1955, studied Music History at Columbia University, taught flute at Phillips Andover Academy, and in 1958, married the love of her life, Richard John, Sr. An active member (and one-time president) of the Lexington Music Club for over fifty years and the Lexington Bicentennial Band for forty, she also had a long career as a volunteer chamber music coach in the Lexington Public Schools, beginning when her own children were at Fiske Elementary, and performed for decades with the Lyricum Woodwind Quintet, alongside a Wellesley-era friend (on bassoon), with whom she played together for 62 years. As her children grew, she enthusiastically returned to flute teaching and established a vibrant studio out of her home, where for 25 years she taught upwards of 250 students, many of whom were accepted into prestigious Boston - area or state-level groups. She cherished this opportunity to share her gifts and love for music with the next generation. Together with her husband, she was an active member of Hancock Church for over 50 years, especially as a participant in its musical activities. She also maintained extremely close contact with her three cherished children and eight grandchildren, continuing to the very end to provide them with her inimitable gentle and strong presence, which was always imbued with an unwavering kindness and love. She is survived by her beloved husband, Richard, with whom she enjoyed 62 years of marriage, and three children: Richard (Nancy Reimer) John; Margaret (David Baker); and Robert (Cynthia Baird) John, and eight grandchildren: Rodda and Emery John; Adela, Elaina, Faith, Zannah, and Graham Baker; and Will John. A Celebration of Life service for Suzanne is being planned for summer or fall 2021 and we will certainly sing her favorite hymn, "And In Our Music God Is Glorified." In lieu of flowers, voluntary contributions in her honor may be made to WGBH Boston (wgbh.org/support/donate) or Hancock United Church of Christ, (hancockchurch.org/ hancock-giving) 1912 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA 02421.