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RICHARD WARREN Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for RICHARD WARREN
November 18, 2012
Oh my goodness. Gary and I just learned about Rich's passing from the Yale Alumni newsletter. We are so shocked and saddened. We wish we had known so we could pay our respects to you, Mary Jo, Charlotte, Will and their families. Rich was so kind and knowledgeable. He and Gary enjoyed talking recordings. You both were so nice and supportive to us as we "grew up" in the New Haven community. After leaving the area, we loved seeing pictures of your growing family and hearing about your trips. Gary also enjoyed the humor Rich shared with others via e-mails. Please accept our condolences. Rich was a wonderful person and friend.
Love,
laura and Gary Sienkiewicz
Sandra Taylor
October 28, 2012
Dear MaryJo and your dear family,
Our deepest sympathy on your sad loss. Sending prayer and kind thoughts from your family in Ireland.
Sandra Taylor & Ian Clandillon & family.
October 15, 2012
Dear Mary Jo,Ellen,Lee,Charlotte and Will and families,
I only just (10/15) found Ellen's email with this tragic news. So sad for everyone. Rich was such a wonderful cousin. All the accolades from friends are fun to read, wish we could have known him better. We always enjoyed his visits when he'd bring Emmy up for lunch at the Boulders with Mother , Noel, and Ginny.
Ahhh, the good old days...Love and hugs to all. Wish I could be there in person. I bet it will be a musical memorial in true 'Richard' fashion. We always enjoy the family photo-collage at Christmas and hope to return the favor this year, at last. Love, Sally Rowe Heckscher, Cincinnati, OH
October 13, 2012
Dear Mary-Jo,
What a shocking loss!
I will never forget the many kindnesses Rich offered to me in my teaching. He has been a magnificent mentor to so many of us who use sound recordings in our work today.
Love,
Margot
Douglas Snyder
October 12, 2012
Two and a half decades ago, a gentleman walked into the record store that my future wife and I had just opened. He was Richard Warren, and soon he became more than a customer; he became our friend and a source of inspiration.
As much as the love I have for sound recording and phonograph records in general had led me down the path to where most of my life and vocation centered, Richard obviously exhibited a like-minded desire to absorb the great legacy of human recorded sounds in its totality. We were both lovers of music; but also deeply appreciative of the thought, the science and the technical artistry behind the sound itself. From the earliest time Edison scratched a groove in a piece of tin foil to the current state-of-the-art nature of digital recording and the state of the music industry, we would speak of a human story of passion and art, commerce and indifference, crassness and elegance that has unfolded in the great volume of recordings man has made. Richard felt the human aspects of the recording medium have captured a true voice of Man in a method that, perhaps, God might have wanted us to find (if there were a God).
Whenever Richard stopped by our store, he was more than a customer. We would have endless discussions about records, symphonies, old jazz, you name it. Although some years my senior, there was never any condescension or elitism in Richard's demeanor. I'm sure Richard was far more educated than I in many ways, even music, but never would he show me up or talk down. He wasn't that way. Richard was “people” in the finest Old New England way. The last time we spoke, he made a slight joke about how slowly Wagner's Ring operas unfolded before the listener, as I told him I was finally up to “Gotterdammerung.” How true! But I know he was bemused by my late foray into the depths of the deep.
As I said, Richard was a friend. My wife, Mary, for a short time worked with Richard's wife, Mary Jo. Mary Jo always made the most wonderful Christmas cookie baskets, and Richard would always bring them to the store each holiday season. I think once, Richard didn't make it to the store at Christmastime, but still showed up with the annual basket of cookies when he finally dropped by in March! And Richard was a very generous man. He has donated some very good surplus records he had obtained to our store, and did not ask anything from us in return. Richard and Mary Jo both attended our wedding ceremony as guests, and their presence was, in our memory, one of the highlights of that special day.
When our discussions turned to politics, there was very little we did not seem to see eye to eye on. I think Richard cared a lot about people, about humanity and man's expressions of art and science. There is not one person I can presently think of that I could possibly miss any more than Richard. As I listen to the fading last notes of that silly opera I will be crying, because I will not be able to ever have another meeting with my friend, Richard Warren.
Mary Snyder
October 12, 2012
I met Richard Warren over 25 years ago in – of all places – a local record store. I had the privilege of getting to know Richard and his wife, Mary Jo, over the next two and a half decades. Mary Jo and I would spend a brief amount of time working together and Richard would become not only a customer at our record store, but also a very dear friend to my husband and me - so much so that we were thrilled when they sent their affirmative response to our wedding invitation, making our special day all the more special. Mary Jo was even kind to have included us in his 70th birthday celebration. We admired both she and Richard, for their love of family, music and animals.
Richard, Mary Jo, Doug and I had many things in common, but we had two things in which we could speak about endlessly – music and cats. He loved both things as much as Doug and I did. We would often share photos, heart breaking losses of our beloved pets and laughs at the antics and ways in which they enriched our lives.
When I was first hired at Yale, over a dozen years ago, Richard – ever the gentleman – invited me to lunch one afternoon. He came to my office, pulled out my chair and we walked together to Mory's, a private, Yale establishment. As a resident of New Haven for decades, it was a place I had seen frequently, as it was a door or two down from a music club that I frequented but never ever thought I'd be invited to one day. That was a thrill for me to go to with such a distinguished man. I think he knew that, and yet, he was not the kind to do anything because he was better than anyone else. He only wanted to share the things that he enjoyed with his friends, of which I was proud to be one of.
Throughout my time at Yale, we would email one another frequently whenever a joke came our way or an animal video or photo was circulated, as we knew that the other would appreciate it. I could hear his chuckle, followed by his signature, “ahhh,” which would follow. He was a kind, generous and loving gentleman who I was lucky to have been privileged to know. We'd share everything from comics to animal pictures to jokes of all kinds. I cannot believe I will no longer be able to send things to him and what hurts even more is that I will never ever receive a message in my inbox from Richard Warren again. Rest in peace, my friend. You will be very sorely missed.
Emily Wentworth
October 12, 2012
Richard graciously and enthusiastically lent his expertise to those of us who were organizing Prof. Capretz's French archives at Yale in July. RIchard's conversations were witty and engaging, thoughtful and intelligent. I am sure the French Dept. at Yale joins me in mourning Richard's loss.
Elizabeth (Lee) Buss
October 12, 2012
Dear Rich. I will miss you so much as your younger sister. I send my love to Mary Jo,Charlotte and William. Rich and I were very close growing up and he has always had a special place in my heart even though I moved so far away. I admire him and his work, and his love of his family and friends. My love follows him and his family. Lee
Howard Foster
October 12, 2012
I had the pleasure of singing alongside of Rich and Mary-Jo in a chorus and I share in the loss of this truly fine man. He made me aware of several recording that I never knew existed and helped enrich my life. My prayers go up for Mary-Jo and family and for the soul of Richard.
Howard Foster
Jon Samuels
October 12, 2012
I knew Rich for thirty-five years, first as an imposing expert, then as a trusted colleague and finally as a dear friend. He and Mary-Jo were always as gracious and generous towards my wife, Caren and me as anyone could be. His intelligence, infectious enthusiasm and knowledge made going to visit him a privilege and a delight. I miss him terribly, and always will.
Anne Ryan
October 11, 2012
I was so saddened to hear about Rich. One of my favorite childhood memories is of listening to recordings of the Green Hornet and Fibber McGee and Molly on a reel to reel. I also fondly remember Rich's model train in the basement; I'd never seen anything like it and was very jealous of Will. He was such a steadfast friend to my parents and will be sorely missed.
Darren Poole
October 11, 2012
My thoughts and prayers go to Charlotte and the family, as I know a dear husband, father and grandfather will be missed.
October 11, 2012
The loss of Richard as a friend, collegue and fountain of knowledge leaves a hole in many lives, mine among them. To those of us obsessed with music and old records, he was the fellow who got sent the intertwined references and puns that only another insider would put up with. That dry chuckle, followed by his "Ahhhh" alerted the world that he had just launched one of his own. He was one of the old-style curators of sound archives who loved what he was archiving before even coming to the job. His affection for and understanding of the art underlying the music and spoken word recordings he curated gave enormous extra dimension to his comments and council. His passing is a devistating loss to us all.
Steve Smolian
Steve Ramm
October 11, 2012
I knew Richard (never knew he was called "Rich") for many years as a fellow Exec Committee member of ARSC. Richard and Mary-Jo hosted my partner, Jane, and I at Morey's in New Haven during our one trip through the area. It's still a lunch I remember 12 years (or more) later. I trust that Ricard is enjoying his records whereever he is. His spirit and kindness live on. My sympathies go out to Mary-Jo and his family. (The photo below is from the Yale website and is how I remember Richard)
Juli Gould
October 10, 2012
Mary-Jo, Charlotte, and Will, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I will always remember Rich's calming presence. My dad once called to tell me that he and Rich had just been to a great "topless" bar. I was needless to say shocked. Well, I should get my ears checked, they had been to a "Tapas" bar. He was a great friend to my dad, and they will both be sorely missed.
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